*Positivists And Interpretivists Flashcards
What is Foucault’s surveillance theory?
Official statistics are for control; understanding the people allows for control over them.
What do positivists believe about science?
Science can explain the universe.
What is the hypothetico-deductive method?
An approach to research that begins with a theory and derives testable hypotheses from it.
How do positivists view scientifically backed theories?
They consider them far more valid than those not backed by quality evidence.
What type of methods do positivists prefer?
Quantitative methods such as social surveys, structured questionnaires, and official statistics.
Who is considered the founder of positivism?
Auguste Comte.
What is the primary means of researching society according to Durkheim?
The comparative method.
What social phenomenon did Durkheim choose to study to demonstrate social factors’ influence?
Suicide.
What did Durkheim find regarding suicide rates across different groups?
Rates varied between countries, social groups, and religious affiliations.
What is the definition of social facts?
Definable social characteristics that exist externally from individual social actors.
Why is reliability important in data collection?
Unreliable data leads to useless conclusions.
What are the three key concerns regarding data reliability?
- Consistency of data collected
- Precision of data collection
- Repeatability of the data collection method
What is validity in the context of data collection?
The extent to which the data measures what it claims to measure.
What is the difference between validity and reliability?
Reliable data may not be valid, and valid data may not be reliable.
What is the interpretivist view on positivism?
They are skeptical of positivists’ scientific claims.
What is the focus of interpretivism in sociology?
Understanding social constructs and context.
What do interpretivists use to study human interactions?
Qualitative research techniques such as ethnographic methods.
What is ‘verstehen’ in social action theory?
Empathetic understanding required to comprehend human action.
What is a risk associated with qualitative research methods?
The subjective views of the researcher could interfere with results.
Fill in the blank: Positivists see society as shaping the _______.
[individual].
True or False: Durkheim believed that suicide is entirely an individual matter.
False.
What type of sociology is more interested in trends and patterns rather than individuals?
Positivist sociology.
What challenge arises from the use of quantitative methods in sociology according to interpretivists?
They often remove context or interfere with the subject matter.
What is the role of official statistics in sociological research?
They are used to find trends and correlations.
What did Durkheim conclude about suicide rates over time?
Rates remained stable relative to each other despite fluctuations.
What is the goal of positivist research?
To uncover general laws that shape human behavior.
