Research Methods Flashcards
What do positivists believe about the influence of natural sciences?
Positivists are influenced by the natural sciences and believe that behavior can be predicted by natural laws.
How do positivist sociologists view human behavior?
They view human behavior as objects that can be directly observed, measured, and counted.
What do positivists argue about social actions?
They argue that social actions are shaped and determined by social forces or laws.
What is the term used to describe the organisation of society?
Social structure.
Fill in the blank: Positivists treat people as objects whose behavior can be _______.
observed, measured, and counted.
what is the positivist view?
Positivism is the belief that social phenomena can be studied scientifically using methods like those in natural sciences, focusing on empirical data such as statistics and observations to identify patterns and laws in society.
what methods do positivists use?
Objective Observation: Sociologists should remain unbiased and detached when studying social facts.
Empiricism: Knowledge should come from observable data, not personal opinions.
Quantitative Methods: Positivists favor measurable research methods like surveys and experiments.
Scientific Approach: Society operates according to laws that can be discovered through systematic study.
