Examine the significance of non-positivist paradigm in social science research.

Non-positivist paradigm involves the qualitative study of sociological research based on non-numerical inputs. This emerged in counter to the initial positivist studies advocated by sociologists like Durkheim, A. Comte, Spencer, etc..

Significance of non-positivist paradigm in social science research:

=> Qualitative research provides the researcher with better interpretation of the human actions.

Eg: Focused Groups discussions by marketing company give useful

inputs in the newly introduced product and better way of marketing it.

=> Non-positivist method lead to better rapport building with the people getting researched by the researcher.

Eg: Participant observation of Whyte in Cornerville in America helped in better recording of their lifestyle.

=> Non-positivist method helps in recording the real life experiences reflecting true emotions of the people.

=> Non-positivist method is used by feminist to record the true emotions of women

Eg: Ann Oakley conducted unstructured interviews of housewives and their emotions during the transition in motherhood.

=> Non-positivist method ensures reliability of the studies and Validity of the studies.

Eg: Historical method of Weber in studying Benjamin Franklin diary to prepare his Protestant ethics & spirit of capitalism.

=> Non-positivist method also significant in establishing the intersectional and multidisciplinary relation in sociological studies.

Eg: Claudia Golden non-positivist studies helped in establishing feminist perspective in the economic domain realising multidisciplinarity.

However, non-positivism faces the criticism of bias, values, objectivity crisis during sociological research.

Beyond criticism, non-positivist methods still relevant today.

Triangulation of methods will be most effective for social studies.