Positivism

Question 1

What is positivism?

Answer 1

An approach to social research which aims to be as close to the natural sciences as possible

Question 2

What do positivists believe about society?

Answer 2

Social facts shape and determine the social actions of people

Question 3

What did Durkheim’s suicide study report?

Answer 3

Society shapes people- social facts control people. Suicide was largely due to social factors NOT psychological factors

Question 4

How is behaviour being patterned significant?

Answer 4

We can see trends in behaviour, due to the social structure we are placed in. Behaviour is predictable

Question 5

What do functionalists believe about behaviour?

Answer 5

Society and its social institutions have socialised people into a value consensus

Question 6

What do marxists believe about behaviour?

Answer 6

Social class influences: educational achievement, job opportunities, life expectancy, cause of death

Question 7

What is quantitative data?

Answer 7

Data in numerical form/statistics (focus on quantity)

Question 8

What are some examples of quantitative data?

Answer 8

• Structured interviews (primary)
• Questionnaires (primary)
• Non-participant observation (primary)
• Official and non-official stats (secondary)