Positivism vs Interpretivism

Question 1

What type of data do positivists prefer?

Answer 1

Quantitative, reliable, objective, empirical evidence, scientific

Question 2

What type of data do interpretivists prefer?

Answer 2

Qualitative, valid, subjective, less scientific

Question 3

Was Durkheim a P or I?

Answer 3

I

Question 4

Why do P like scientific evidence?

Answer 4

Produces a C+E relationship

Question 5

Are P macro or micro?

Answer 5

Macro

Question 6

Are I macro or micro?

Answer 6

Micro - they looks at individuals and meanings

Question 7

What are the advantages of?

Answer 7

ID trends over time
See correlations + establish casual relation, can develop policy after this
Easy analysis
Often involves a larger sample, more representative + generalisable
Quick, cheap

Question 8

What are the advantages of I?

Answer 8

High in validity
Verstehen can be established
More likely to retain a ‘natural situation’

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of P?

Answer 9

Fails to consider meanings
Low validity - people may lie/ respond in socially desirable ways
Difficult to gather complex, intimate personal topics
Difficulties in operationalising key concepts

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of I?

Answer 10

Time consuming
Requires considerable skills
Often has smaller, unrepresentative samples, can’t generalise
Difficult to replicate - low in reliability
Relies on the subjective interpretation about complex, intimate personal topics

Question 11

What are P interested in?

Answer 11

Studying aspects of S which can be objectively observed.
Less interested in thoughts and feelings
More interested in ‘social facts’ - things which exist objectively in society without the influence of individuals.

Question 12

What are I interested in?

Answer 12

Focus their research on meanings behind the behaviour of the individuals.
Favor the use of qualitative methods to gain an empathetic understanding of social action.

Question 13

Who takes the bottom-up approach?

Answer 13

I arguing that the only way to understand S is to look at the world through the eyes of individuals

Question 14

Who takes the top-down approach?

Answer 14

P - arguing that the best way to understand society is to view it as a real ‘thing’ which exists independently of individuals and shapes their lives.

Question 15

How do P argue that sociologists should view society?

Answer 15

The best way to understand society is to view it as a real ‘thing’ which exists independently of individuals and shapes their lives.

Question 16

How do I argue that sociologists should view society?

Answer 16

Argue that the only way to understand S is to look at the world through the eyes of individuals

Question 17

What do P argue that sociologists should look for?

Answer 17

General patterns of behaviour, taking a macro approach.

Question 18

What do I argue that we should look for?

Answer 18

Should see the world from the same perspective as those being studied, and look for the meanings behind behaviour.