Positivism + Interpretivism

Question 1

Positivism + Interpretivism - Positivism Research

Answer 1

• Believe soc is a science
- determine patterns, correlations + Social facts by experimenting soc
- Quantitative data
• can discover social laws of soc (things that affect everyone)
• Prefer quantitative data

Question 2

Positivism + Interpretivism - Positivism Example - Durkheim

Answer 2

• Suicide: A Study in Soc
- Quantitative data to compare suicide rates across countries to determine correlations + explanation
• Argue ita due to social integration = assimilation into dominant culture
• Study is reliable - replicable

Question 3

Positivism + Interpretivism - Positivist Research - Interpretivist Critique

Answer 3

• Impossible to measure social integration –> operationalise
• Durkheim relied on religious beliefs
• Study isn’t representative or valid - only religious interpretation

Question 4

Positivism + Interpretivism- Interpretivism + Research

Answer 4

• Dont believe soc is a science
- Humans have free will
- Maths data doesn’t give us deep understanding
- To understand soc must understand meaning behind actions –> everyone reacts differently
• Prefer qualitative data

Question 5

Positivism + Interpretivism - Laboratory Experiments

Answer 5

• Quantitative
• Positivists prefer
• Positivists –> achieves reliability - control conditions, replicable
- but impossible to control all variables - small scale
• Interpretivists –> Fails to achieve validity - reject it as artificial = unnatural beh

Question 6

Positivism + Interpretivism - Questionnaires

Answer 6

• Quantitative + Qualitative data
• Positivists prefer
• Positivists –> achieves reliability, generalisability + representativeness = standardised + reliable, large scale
• Interpretvists –> imposes researchers ideas on respondent, doesn’t find meaning - lacks validity

Question 7

Positivism + Interpretivism - Structured Interviews

Answer 7

• Quantitative days
• Positivists prefer
• Positivists –> Reliable, generalisable, standardised questions, pre coded, large scale
• Interpreticists –> imposed researchers ideas onto interviewee (researchers effects)

Question 8

Positivism + Interpretivism - Unstructured Interviews

Answer 8

• Qualitative data
• Interperpretivists Prefer
• Interpretivists –> Achieves validity - absence of structure, open questions
• Positivists –> Each interview is unique - not reliable

Question 9

Positivism + Interpretivism - Participant Observation

Answer 9

• Qualitative data
• Interpretivists Favour
• Interpretivists –> Achieves validity: true picture, first hand insight into meaning
• Positivists –> lacks structure, can’t be replicated

Question 10

Positivism + Interpretivism - Official Stats

Answer 10

• Quantitative data
• Positivists favour
• Positivists –> Reliable - standardised collection, easy to replicate, large scale
• interpretivists –> social Constructs not facts- not valid

Question 11

Positivism + Interpretivism - Documents

Answer 11

• Qualitative data
• Interpretivists favour
• Interpretivists –> Achieve validity = authentic - not written for research purposes
• Positivists –> Unstandardised + unreliable - unique, can’t generalise

Question 12

Positivism + Interpretivism - Evaluate Positivism

Answer 12

Strengths
• Can locate correlations
• Produces scientific + accurate data
• More representative
• Reliable - replicated
Weaknesses
• Lacks validity - can’t explain trends
• Neglexts indivs –> structuralist
• Not flexible

Question 13

Positivism + Interpretivism - Evaluating Interpretivism

Answer 13

Strengths
• High validity
• Qualitative data - meaning
• Gives voice to marginalised in soc
• Gives insight into hard to reach groups (gangs)
Weaknesses
• Can’t be replicated
• Overly influenced by researchers values
• Not representative
• Unscientific + Difficult to prove wrong