Interpretivism Interpretivists believe that, because people’s behaviour is influenced by the interpretations and meanings they give to social situations, the researcher’s task is to gain an understanding of these interpretations and meanings. Sociology should therefore use research methods which provide an understanding from the point of view of individuals and groups who are being studied. Interpretivists suggest is a need to discuss and get personally involved with people in order to understand their interpretations and meanings. Interpretivists therefore favour research methods which collect qualitative data. These include: Participant and sometimes non participant observation Informal/unstructured interviews Open questionnaires Personal accounts tend to involve a micro approach with small scale, in depth research. Methodological Pluralism Most sociologists will use a range of methods to collect different kinds of data. The use of a variety of methods is known as methodological pluralism. Sociologists will often use two or more research methods to check the reliability and validity of findings. This is known as triangulation. Is Sociology a Science? Science is part of modernity and therefore modernist sociologists’ such as Durkheim and Marx saw it as of use to sociology. They argued that using scientific methods would enable sociologists to understand society and therefore solve social problems. Positivism Positivists, such as Comte, Marx and Durkheim believe it is possible and desirable to apply scientific methods to the study of society. Doing this will provide objective knowledge which will provide the basis for solving social problems. Positivism also views human behaviour is a response to observable external forces in much the same way as events in the natural world. For example, nature is made up of observable facts such as rocks, stars etc. These objects or facts exist outside of the human mind. Similarly, society is an objective, external fact and exists outside of the human mind. Social facts
Interpretivism Interpretivists believe that, because people’s behaviour is influenced by the interpretations and meanings they give to social situations, the researcher’s task is to gain an understanding of these interpretations and meanings. Sociology should therefore use research methods which provide an understanding from the point of view of individuals and groups who are being studied. Interpretivists suggest is a need to discuss and get personally involved with people in order to understand their interpretations and meanings. Interpretivists therefore favour research methods which collect qualitative data. These include: Participant and sometimes non participant observation Informal/unstructured interviews Open questionnaires Personal accounts tend to involve a micro approach with small scale, in depth research. Methodological Pluralism Most sociologists will use a range of methods to collect different kinds of data. The use of a variety of methods is known as methodological pluralism. Sociologists will often use two or more research methods to check the reliability and validity of findings. This is known as triangulation. Is Sociology a Science? Science is part of modernity and therefore modernist sociologists’ such as Durkheim and Marx saw it as of use to sociology. They argued that using scientific methods would enable sociologists to understand society and therefore solve social problems. Positivism Positivists, such as Comte, Marx and Durkheim believe it is possible and desirable to apply scientific methods to the study of society. Doing this will provide objective knowledge which will provide the basis for solving social problems. Positivism also views human behaviour is a response to observable external forces in much the same way as events in the natural world. For example, nature is made up of observable facts such as rocks, stars etc. These objects or facts exist outside of the human mind. Similarly, society is an objective, external fact and exists outside of the human mind. Social facts
methods___debates_revision_guide.docx