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Positivist, Interpretivist and Post-modern approaches

Positivist, Interpretivist and Post-modern approaches. We know that Sociologists study societies, but HOW do they study them?. A. Positivism (Positivist). Auguste Comte created and loves positivism

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Positivist, Interpretivist and Post-modern approaches

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  1. Positivist, Interpretivist and Post-modern approaches We know that Sociologists study societies, but HOW do they study them?

  2. A. Positivism(Positivist) • Auguste Comte created and loves positivism • One should study sociology in the same way that one studies the natural world, using the scientific method. • PHEOC

  3. Scientific Research (page 12) • 1. Empirical: uses observation and experience, not just logic • 2. Theoretical: create theories from observations • 3. Cumulative: build on existing theories • 4. Ethical: • Communal: share the results • Non-biased: objective • Skeptical: open to criticism • 5. Systematic: follows steps • 6. Reliable: can be repeated by someone else and get the same • results • 7: Valid: measures what it is supposed to measure

  4. B. Interpretivism(Interpretivist) • Anti-positivism • Different people in different situations will interpret what is happening different ways. • Researchers should experience the world the way the person they are studying experiences the world • Empathy: sharing another’s feelings, living life “in their shoes”

  5. Differences between Positivism and Interpretivism Positivism Interpretivism - Study from within - Qualitative - Subjective What is one strength and one weakness of interpretivism? • - Study from without • - Quantitative • - Objective • What is one strength and one weakness of positivism?

  6. Approaches to research: A. Positivism B. Interpretivism C. Post-modernist Theories about how to think about society: A. Structuralism B. Interpretivism C. Functionalism D. Marxism E. Feminism

  7. Consider this… • Macro (p. 7) • Micro (p. 7) • Conflict (p. 9) • Consensus (p. 9)

  8. Structuralism (p. 7) • - Durkheim • - Society exists separate from individuals. • - People fill in the roles of the society. • Example: US government vs. Indonesian government • - Durkheim’s famous example: suicide

  9. Interpretivism (p. 8) • - People create the societies that they live in. • - Individuals create their own identities. • - See page 9

  10. Functionalism (p.10) • - Every part of society has a function to fill. • - Doctors • - Prison?

  11. Marxism (p. 10) • - Also called Conflict Theory • - Classes are in conflict • - Proletariat • - Bourgeoisie

  12. Feminism (p. 11)

  13. Post-modernism (1970s-present)(Post-modernist) • A sociological research method that studies how people create narratives (stories) and how people understand the world around them. • Collect narratives, not data. • The narratives are not true or false. They are. • Not rational, not empirical. Not anti-science either, though

  14. Recap • Positivism: A sociological research method that uses the scientific method to produce objective, quantitative results. • Interpretivism: A sociological research method that requires the researcher to subjectively understand how people interpret/experience situations. The researcher becomes part of the study and produces qualitative results. • Post-modernism: A sociological research method that studies how people create narratives (stories) and how people understand the world around them. Non-scientific

  15. Discussion Questions • Which of the approaches (positivism, interpretivism, post-modernism) would you use to study the following? • 1. I want to understand how it feels to live in a slum. • 2. I want to learn who is happier, Javanese people or Madurese people. • 3. I want to hear the stories of WWII survivors and how their experience in concentration camps affected their belief in God. • 4. You want to learn about smoking. How would each of the approaches (positivism, interpretivism, post-modernism) learn about smoking? • 5. You want to learn about people’s first dates. • 6. Which of the Sociologists would be positivists? Interpretivists? Post-modernists? Neither?

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