Yaksh ChaudharyAIR 6 · CSE 2021 · 373 wordsTheir whole copy
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Positivists and interpretivists are two set of methodologies in sociology which while being different in approaches try to explain the social reality:
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Difference between Two
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| Positivist | Interpretivist |
|---|---|
| (1) It sees social world as observable directly and objectively. | Social world can't be observed directly because of meanings and motives of individuals. |
| (2) The attributes of social world can be quantified. | Meanings and motives are dynamic and can not be quantified. |
| (3) Methods similar to natural science can be employed. | Scientific method similar to natural science can't be used. |
| for E.g. Durkheim used quantitative methods in his study of suicide. | |
| (4) Experiments can be done on the quantitative data. | Experiments similar to natural sciences are not possible. |
| (5) Causal explanation can be attained. for eg: Durkheim gave reasons for suicides in various societies. | While symbolic interactionists and Weber advocates the possibility of causal explanation. But phenomenology completely denies it for eg. Harold Garfinkel advocates that motive of sociologist should be to explain phenomenon and not causal explanation. |
| (5) General and Universal law is the aim. | General laws are not possible because meanings and motives are dynamic and can't be predicted. |
| for e.g. Comte claimed that he has find out the law of evolution of society. | |
| (6) They prefer scientific methods like - structured interviews, questionnaires, surveys etc. | More qualitative methods like - participant observations, focussed group studies are preferred. |
| (7) Human behavior is guided by external world and it can be predicted. for eg. social facts of Durkheim are the driving force of behavior of person (i.e. social currents, morality etc.) | Human behavior is guided by meanings and motives (Weber), Common sense (phenomenologists). Hence human behavior is not scientifically arrestable and predictable. |
Hence both positivists and interpretivists have different aims and objectives and methodologies but both try to achieve higher reliability, validity and objectivity. some sociologists like Alan Bryman advocates the Coordination and usage of both positivism and interpretivism to enhance the accuracy of research.
Hence both positivism and interpretivism have divergencies but some convergencies at times.