interpretivism

Question 1

Interpretivism

Answer 1

These approaches claim either that ‘scientific’ approaches are inadequate on their own for collecting, analysing and explaining data, or that they are totally inappropriate in a subject that deals with human behaviour. Thus some sociologists who advocate the use of interpretive and qualitative approaches suggest that they should be used to supplement ‘scientific’ quantitative methodology; others that they should replace ‘scientific’ approaches.

Question 2

Interpretivism 2

Answer 2

Quantitative data are data in a numerical form: for example, official statistics on crime, suicide and divorce rates. By comparison, qualitative data are usually presented in words. These may be a description of a group of people living in poverty, providing a full and in-depth account of their way of life, or a transcript of an interview in which people describe and explain their attitude towards and experience of religion. Compared to quantitative data, qualitative data are usually seen as richer, more vital, as having greater depth and are more likely to present a true picture of a way of life, of people’s experiences, attitudes and beliefs.

Question 3

The interpretive approach

Answer 3

Sociologists who take an interpretive approach are usually the strongest advocates of qualitative data. They argue that the whole basis of sociology is the interpretation of social action. Social action can only be understood by interpreting the meanings and motives on which it is based. Many interpretive sociologists argue that there is little chance of discovering these meanings and motives from quantitative data. Only from qualitative data can the sociologist hope to interpret the meanings that lie behind social action.

Question 4

The interpretive approach 2

Answer 4

Some interpretive sociologists reject the use of natural science methodology for the study of social action. Unlike matter, people have consciousness. They see, interpret and experience the world in terms of meanings; they actively construct their own social reality. Meanings are not imposed by an external society that constrains members to act in certain ways. Instead, they are constructed and reconstructed by actors in the course of social interaction. It is the sociologist’s job to try to understand the interpretation given by the subjects of the investigation. Weber called this verstehen, or empathic understanding of human behaviour. Sociologists should put themselves in the shoes of the person they are studying in order to find out the motives behind their actions.

Question 5

The interpretive approach 3

Answer 5

Whatever action is taken by an individual, advocates of interpretive sociology would argue that the causal explanation of human behaviour is impossible without some understanding of the subjective states of the individuals concerned. Thus a positivist might be content to discover what external factors led to a certain type of human behaviour, while an advocate of a more qualitative approach would be interested in the meaning attached to the behaviour by those engaging in it.