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
- Study from without
- Quantitative
- Objective
What is one strength and one weakness of positivism?
- Study from within
- Qualitative
- Subjective
What is one strength and one weakness of interpretivism?

6. Approaches to research:
A. Positivism
B. Interpretivism
C. Post-modernist
Theories about how to think about society:
A. Structuralism
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?