Positivism & Interpretivism Flashcards
Theorectical Ideas
Ideas in Essays
theoretical povs of the meth - what do positivists/ interps think
Theoretical Considerations in Choice of Research
refers to whether research is theoretically reliable & valid & researchers attitudes to what type of data & methods yield the best results
Positivism
Theoretical Perspective
want to uncover general laws about behav using scientific quantative methods to study large nums of ppl in a reliable rep way
Interpretivism
Theoretical Perspective
want to really understand & empth e/ indu ppls expers gaining in depth insights into their lives using qualitative methods for better rapports & greater validity
Positivism
1
view socio should use meths of nat scis - doesn’t mean using expers = ethical probs - should use quan meths & aim to iden & measure soc strucs - example = D - suicide study
Positivism
2
quan meths - soc surveys, struc questionaires & offic stats = good reliability & rep
see soc as shaping the indu & believe soc facts shape indu action
trad stresses NBance of quan research - large scale surveys to get overview of soc & uncover soc trends - rela between edu ach & soc class - m interested in trends & patterns X indu
Social Facts
concepts & institutions in soc that are obj & sci verfiable
Durkheim’s Study of Suicide
comp the incidence of various soc factors w/ num of cases of suicide
did close analysis of available off stats - showed varied: from one country to another - rapid soc change = higher rates, between dif soc groups - div = higher rates than mar, between relig groups - prots higher than caths
= rela stable for each group in rela to each other = entirely indu - untouched by soc factors
Durkheim’s Study of Suicide Conclusion
suicide rates inc when = too little/much soc regulation/intergration
Social Regulation
the extent to which there are clear norms & values in a soc
Social Intergration
extent to which ppl belong to soc
Anomic
Durkheim’s 4 Types of Suicide
due to breakdown of soc equlibrium, bankruptcy, loss of job & family
Altruistic
Durkheim’s 4 Types of Suicide
results from over intergration of indu into soc proof removing them self for the betterment of immediate fam/ soc group
Fatalistic
Durkheim’s 4 Types of Suicide
soc sets an expec that burdensome ppl should remove themselves
Egoistic
Durkheim’s 4 Types of Suicide
soc isolation leads a man to destroy himself
Evaluation of Positivism
treats indu as passive & unthinking - humans are less predictable than P’s suggest
I’s argue ppl’s subj realities are complex & this demands indepth qual meths
stats P’s use to find laws of soc may be invalid bc of bias in way are collected
by remaining detached - get v shallow understanding of human behav
Key Features of Interpretivism
soc & soc strucs = soc construc creations of indus
emph free will/volun of indus
micro approach to research
behav is driven by beliefs meanings feelings and emotions
uses qual meths
accepts that interp of actions = subj
Subjectivity
form of bias & also indu = op of obj
Social Construct
exists not in obj reality but as a result of human interaction - exists bc humans agree it exists
soc construc theory says humans create constructs to make sense of obj world
struc what see into categories
Interpretivism
1
argue study of human soc must go beyond empirical & supposedly obj evidence to include subj views, opinions, emotions, values - can’t be directly observed & counted - require interpretations
would argue research can’t really estab soc facts - soc about subj values & interps & can’t be understood through facts
Interpretivism
2
soc can’t be treated as a science
indus have ability to exercise control & choices over actions - everyone = dif w/ dif views & attitudes = not pos to use sci meth to study soc
sci approach not suitable for study of soc bc the soc world differs to natural world ppl X chemicals/forces - behave dif & = m complex
Ethnomethodology
argues soc reality = construct of its mems we create reality using a stock of taken for granted common sense knowledge - socios job is to uncover what know is & how can be used to make sense of world
Interpretivism Example Research
Atkinson - uses ethnomethodology - agrees w/ Douglas that off stats = labels that coroners give to deaths but disagress that using qual data allows to get behind these labels to find the deceased’s real meanings - from this can discover real rate of suicide = only interps by officials can study construction
Interpretivism Example Continued
A then focusses on how coroners categorise deaths - quali meths inclu convos w/ coroners, obvs of inquests & exams of court records
concl coroners have common sense theory about typical suicide - what kind of person commits suicide, reaso & what = typical mode/place of death - if case fits then categorised
Coroners’ Common Sense Theory
use evidence such as:
1. suicide note/ prior threats
2. mode of death - hanging = typ suicide, road = accident, drowning = m complex
3. location & circums - shooting in deserted place = s not when hunting group
4. life history - disturbed childhood, mental illness / dif soc/personal situ - div, bereavment
Strengths of Interpretivism
examine micro approaches that see indu as having agency not simply a recipient of external soc forces - not deterministic
enables us to see how soc reality is constructed through meanings & negos
allows in depth understanding of motivs for behav & how ppl exper the world
Weaknesses of Interpretivism
Verstehen socio assumes all indus engage in rational behav
this understanding leads them to believe that indus understand the motivations behind their own actions
interp of events can be biased and lack obj
Problems w/ Coroners Common Sense Theory
if correct = prob w/ Durkheim’s theory that stats are fact bc all doing is spelling out coroners theory about suicide - not cause of suicide
