Positivism

Question 1

Positivism:

Answer 1

• Influenced by natural sciences
• Treat and study in a similar way to objects
• Behaviour: Observable, measurable and counted
• Social force/ laws which shape and determine the actions of people

Question 2

Example of positivism:

Answer 2

• Structuralists are positivists who study the organisation of society
• E.g. Functionalists, marxists, feminists

Question 3

Patterns and trends of positivism:

Answer 3

• Society is more influential in shaping human behaviour than free will
• ‘Puppets of society’
• Whole group of people behave in similar ways as a result (Patterned behaviour)
• Trends in behaviour to be easily observed - allows general laws to be established
• Macro approach

Question 4

Example of how functionalists are positivists:

Answer 4

• Social institutions create a value consensus
• Most conform to the norms in fear of disapproval
• Institutions and social control shape our behaviour and limit free will

Question 5

Reliability:

Answer 5

• easily replicated
• Should allow another sociologist to repeat the research and obtain the same results
• Checks and verifies the scientific accuracy of the way data is gathered

Question 6

Objective/ value free:

Answer 6

• Sociologists should be neutral
• Not allow any personal or political values to cause bias of their method of interpretation
• Sociologists have to find alternative methods to eliminate bias (e.g. different sampling techniques)

Question 7

Representative:

Answer 7

• Positivists aim to select a representative sample of the desired group to take part in the research
• Participants should have characteristics that are typical of the larger population being studied
• E.g. Same socio economic background and reflect the ratio of gender, age and ethnicity

Question 8

Quantitative:

Answer 8

• Data expressed in numerical data forms
• Presented in graphs, tables and bar-charts
• Correlation can be used to uncover cause and effect - helps establish ‘social facts’ or laws

Question 9

Positivists have been influencial:

Answer 9

• Remaining objective allows sociologists to remain detached and crucial to the bSA’s standards
• Funding councils (Governments prefer quantitative research)
• Science has status in society