topic 2: theory and methods- interpretivism

Question 1

what is mean by interpretivism?

Answer 1

How individuals interpret their lives, meaning we are talking about subjective but important and significant aspects of people’s lives

Question 2

According to Weber, why can humans not be studied like objects?

Answer 2

He noted people are active, conscious beings with free will and aware of what goes on in society, therefore are capable of making choices however atoms, elements, gravity, plants and animals aren’t conscious or self aware and cannot interpret what is happening

Question 3

What do interpretivist understand about human behaviour?

Answer 3

Interpretivist sociologists argue people are active creators of their own doctrines because they are conscious beings who act with intension and purpose

Question 4

what are are the two ways in which the social world is created?

Answer 4

1. people choose to come together to interact in social groups. e.g they choose to live in families
2. Weber argued what makes an interaction or event ‘social’ is that those who take part give it the same meaning. They all interpret what is happening and then interact according to what is going on.

Question 5

How does Weber explain behaviour in the social world?

Answer 5

Weber argued that we must not regard people simply as helpless puppets, as positivists do. Instead, we should acknowledge society in a social construct in that it is the net sum of all social interactions and the interpretations of meanings that underpin them

Question 6

explain what rapport is?

Answer 6

Rapport refers to a trusting relationship between the participant and the sociologist. This allows for a far more honest flow of info from a participant to a sociologist
If the person trusts the sociologist they are far more likely to open up

Question 7

Explain what verstehen is?

Answer 7

Interpretivist sociologists argue if we want to explain social actions, we have to understand them in a way the participants do
We need to develop, what Weber called verstehen, “empathetic understanding”
The job of interpretivist sociologists is to objectively uncover the subjective experience of his/ her research subjects

Question 8

quantitative data?

Answer 8

Interpretivist prefer quantitative data which means the quality of the way of life research subjects in the form of words rather than numbers
Research reports produced by interpretivists contain (word for word) verbatim accounts of the social world

Question 9

explain subjectivity?

Answer 9

subjectivity is the extent to which personal opinions of sociologist affects the design and outcome of research
Interpretivists argue objectivity isn’t of importance as only by subjectivity a true interpretation of what is going on can be obtained

Question 10

researcher imposition?

Answer 10

The concept describes various ways researchers can influence and shape a study, without being aware of it due to views, opinions and identity.
The choice of topic, method, methodology and operationalisation of concepts have the potential to impose values of research process, which needs to be limited or acknowledges can be addressed in reflexivity

Question 11

explain reflecxivity?

Answer 11

reflexivity is associated with value freedom
Reflexivity is where researchers consider their decisions and presence in research and how it influences quality of data collected.
Positivists argue research can be value free; researchers can detach their values from the research to gain objective data, free from bias
Interpretivists argue sociology cannot be value free, as it is impossible to detach ones values from the research