Theory And Methods (Positivism And Interpretivism)

Question 1

Positivism

Answer 1

• Influenced by natural sciences and adapt these ideas to human behaviour
• argue, we should treat people as objects his behaviour can be directly, observed, measured and counted in the same way as natural phenomena
• Believe that just as there are natural laws, governing the behaviour of these natural phenomena, so that are social forces or laws, shaping, and determining the social actions of people

Question 2

Objective

Answer 2

Sociologist should be neutral, not biased when researching

Question 3

Value freedom

Answer 3

Not allowed that personal or political values or prejudice to bias any aspects of their research method

Question 4

Interpretivism

Answer 4

• Rejected of view, that human beings can be treated like objects in much the same way as things in the natural world
• Believe people choose to work alongside others and what makes an interaction or event social is that all those who take part, give it the same meaning

Question 5

Reflexivity

Answer 5

Form of self evaluation that involves researchers reflecting critically on how they organise the research process

Question 6

Interpretation

Answer 6

Concentrates on the meanings, people associate to their social life

Question 7

Subjectivity

Answer 7

Experience of social life, how they interact with others, and how they interpret the social reality they find themselves in

Question 8

Verstehen

Answer 8

Sociologist need to understand them same as participants

Question 9

Research imposition

Answer 9

Only focus on what the sociologist think is important and consequently it may neglect what the research subject really thinks