research methods positivism

Question 1

What are the key ideas of positivism?

Answer 1

• The structural forces shape the behavior of individuals
• It looks at the macro perspective
• Looks to obtain objective and quantitative data
• Society can be studied scientifically same ways as natural sciences

Question 2

What are the experiments used in positivism?

Answer 2

• Lab experiment
• Field experiments

Question 3

What are the methods used by positivists?

Answer 3

• Experiments
• Comparative method
• Surveys
• Non participant observation

Question 4

What is the comparative method used by positivists?

Answer 4

When they compare official statistics across time, location or social groups to analyze trends and patterns in behavior

Question 5

What surveys are used by positivists?

Answer 5

• Closed questionnaires
• Structured interviews
  Methods can be easily quantified and replicated which gives them more reliability

Question 6

Would a positivist prefer a parcipant observation or non participant observation?

Answer 6

Positivists would prefer a non participant observation as behaviors can be observed from a distance which research or interference

Question 7

Strengths of positivist methods?

Answer 7

-Can demonstrate cause and effect relationships or correlation between events this is a feature of scientific research
- They produce quantitive data which is seen as being more objective and scientific
- Preferred by governments to advice on social policy as macro scale allows for generalization of different groups
- Reliability which means it can be replicated and results checked- falsification principial

Question 8

Limitations of positivist methods?

Answer 8

• Lack validity they might demonstrate trends but not explain why
• It neglects the actions of individuals it more focused on structural forces rather than the agency of individuals
• Its too fixed it may not reflect the fluidity and diversity in contemporary society
• It doesn’t gain an insight into the lives of individuals it focuses on what they do and not why they did it

Question 9

How was Durkheim’s study of suicide related to positivism?

Answer 9

-Durkheim used comparative method to observe social facts behind differences in suicide rates across European countries

Question 10

How was crime and education related to positivism?

Answer 10

• Rates of offending, educational achievement by social groups

Question 11

How was social attitudes surveys related to positivism?

Answer 11

• Domestic division of labour, consumer habits, media usage