Research Methods: Positivism (Sociology Theory & Methods)

Summary

This tutorial video delves into positivism, a research approach in sociology that emphasizes systematic and scientific study of social behaviors. Positivists, inspired by thinkers like Emile Durkheim, argue for the quantifiable measurement of social facts to establish cause-and-effect relationships. They focus on macro-level societal structures, using quantitative data collection methods such as lab and field experiments, comparative analysis, and structured surveys for objectivity and predictability. While positivism offers strengths like replicability and falsifiability, it faces criticisms for potential lack of validity and overlooking individual agency.

Takeaways

• 🔬 **Positivism Defined**: Positivism is a systematic and scientific approach to studying society, developed by sociologists like Emile Durkheim.
• 📊 **Quantitative Data Focus**: Positivists prefer collecting quantitative data, viewing it as more objective and scientific for understanding society.
• 🔍 **Macro Sociology**: Positivism is a form of macro sociology, focusing on the impact of social forces and institutions on individual behaviors.
• 🧬 **Structural View**: It takes a structural view of society, examining how institutions like education, family, and religion shape individual behavior.
• 🔄 **Reproducibility**: Positivist methods are designed to be reproducible, allowing for the testing and verification of sociological theories.
• 🧐 **Causal Relationships**: It seeks to establish cause-and-effect relationships, especially through lab experiments.
• 📈 **Comparative Method**: The comparative method is used to analyze trends and patterns by comparing official statistics across different times and groups.
• 📋 **Rigorous Surveys**: Positivists use surveys, especially closed questionnaires and structured interviews, for their quantifiable and replicable nature.
• 👀 **Non-Participant Observation**: Non-participant observations are preferred to minimize researcher influence and maintain objectivity.
• 📉 **Limitations of Positivism**: Despite its strengths, positivism can lack validity, be overly deterministic, and fail to capture the diversity and fluidity of society.
• 🌐 **Real-World Applications**: Positivist research methods are applied in various fields, including crime rates, education, and social attitude surveys.

Q & A

What is positivism in the context of sociological research?

Positivism is a methodological approach to research in society that emphasizes a systematic and scientific way of studying social phenomena. It suggests that individuals can be studied similarly to natural sciences, with behaviors observed, recorded, and quantified to study cause and effect relationships.

Who is credited with the development of positivism in sociology?

Emile Durkheim is one of the key figures credited with the development of positivism in sociology.

How does positivism view the role of social institutions in shaping society?

Positivism views social institutions such as education, family, religion, and work as significant factors that shape individual behaviors and society as a whole.

What type of data do positivists generally prefer to collect?

Positivists generally prefer to collect quantitative data because they see it as more objective and scientific, allowing for analysis and prediction of social behaviors.

What are the key methods used by positivists in their research?

Positivists use methods such as lab and field experiments, comparative methods, surveys with rigid structures like closed questionnaires, and non-participant observations.

What is the comparative method in positivist research?

The comparative method involves comparing data, often official statistics, over time, different locations, and social groups to analyze trends and patterns in behavior.

What are some strengths of positivist methods?

Strengths of positivist methods include the ability to provide cause and effect relationships, the production of objective quantitative data, generalizability, and the possibility of reproducibility and falsification.

What are some limitations of positivist methods?

Limitations of positivist methods include a lack of validity, a deterministic view that ignores individual agency, a fixed approach that may not reflect societal diversity, and a reduction of attitudes and opinions to numerical values.

Can you provide an example of a famous positivist research study?

A famous example of positivist research is Durkheim's study on suicide, where he analyzed suicide rates across European countries and found correlations with social integration and regulation.

How does positivism relate to contemporary sociological research?

Positivism is still relevant in contemporary sociological research, particularly in areas such as crime rates, social attitudes, and large-scale surveys like national censuses, which are often based on positivist ideologies.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Introduction to Positivism in Sociology

This paragraph introduces positivism as a methodological approach in sociological research, developed by sociologists like Emile Durkheim. Positivism advocates for a systematic and scientific study of society, akin to natural sciences, where behaviors are observed, recorded, and quantified. It emphasizes the role of social institutions such as education, family, and religion in shaping individual behavior. Positivists focus on macro-level societal structures rather than individual interactions and prefer quantitative data for its objectivity and scientific rigor. They utilize methods like lab and field experiments, comparative analysis, surveys, and non-participant observations to establish cause-and-effect relationships and predict social behaviors. The paragraph also outlines the strengths of positivist methods, including their ability to provide objective data, generalizability, and reproducibility, which are highly valued in policy formulation and decision-making.

05:01

📊 Limitations and Examples of Positivist Research

The second paragraph discusses the limitations of positivist methods, such as the lack of validity and the reduction of complex human attitudes to numerical values. It points out that positivism may not fully capture the subjective experiences and motivations of individuals, and can be deterministic, overlooking individual agency and free will. The paragraph also provides examples of positivist research, notably Durkheim's study on suicide rates and their correlation with social integration and regulation. It mentions other areas where positivism is applied, including crime rates, educational achievement, social surveys on labor division, consumer habits, and social media usage. The UK census, conducted every ten years, is highlighted as a significant example of positivist research.

Keywords

💡Positivism

Positivism is a methodological approach in sociology that emphasizes the use of scientific methods to study society. It was developed by figures such as Emile Durkheim. In the video, positivism is described as a systematic and scientific way to study society, aiming to observe and record behaviors in a manner akin to natural sciences. Positivists believe that social facts can be quantified and measured to understand cause-and-effect relationships within society.

💡Social Institutions

Social institutions are the established structures or organizations within a society, such as education, family, religion, and work. The video explains that positivists view these institutions as shaping individual behavior. They take a structural view of society, focusing on how these institutions influence and determine social behaviors, rather than on individual interactions.

💡Quantitative Data

Quantitative data refers to numerical data that can be analyzed statistically. Positivists prefer this type of data because it is seen as more objective and scientific. The video mentions that positivists collect quantitative data to study society, believing it allows for the same kind of predictive analysis found in the natural sciences.

💡Causal Relationships

Causal relationships are connections between events or variables where one event causes another. The video notes that positivist methods, particularly lab experiments, can establish cause-and-effect relationships, which is a key feature of scientific research. This is exemplified by Durkheim's research into suicide rates and their correlation with social integration and regulation.

💡Lab and Field Experiments

Lab and field experiments are methods used by positivists to study causal relationships. Lab experiments are conducted in controlled environments, allowing for greater control over variables, while field experiments take place in natural settings and are more susceptible to external influences. The video explains that both methods are used to understand how social factors influence behavior.

💡Comparative Method

The comparative method involves comparing data across different times, locations, or social groups to identify trends and patterns. The video cites Durkheim's study of suicide rates across Western Europe as a notable example of this method, demonstrating how positivists use it to analyze social behaviors and draw conclusions.

💡Surveys

Surveys are a research tool used by positivists to collect data from a large number of individuals. The video specifies that positivists prefer structured surveys, such as closed questionnaires and structured interviews, because they can be easily quantified and replicated, which enhances the reliability of the data.

💡Non-participant Observation

Non-participant observation is a research method where the researcher observes behavior without interacting with or influencing the subjects. Positivists prefer this method for its objectivity, as it allows for the observation of behaviors without researcher interference. The video suggests that this detachment is seen as a way to maintain scientific rigor.

💡Validity

Validity in research refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of the findings. The video points out that positivist methods can sometimes lack validity because they may demonstrate changes in behavior without providing an explanation for why those changes occur. This can lead to a subjective interpretation of the data.

💡Determinism

Determinism is the belief that all events, including human behavior, are determined by preceding events or causes. The video suggests that positivism can be seen as deterministic because it heavily focuses on structural elements of society and may overlook the agency and free will of individuals to respond to social forces.

💡Falsification Principle

The falsification principle, mentioned in the video, is a key element of scientific research that posits that a theory should be able to be proven false through empirical testing. Positivist methods are valued for their reproducibility and ability to be falsified, which is essential for the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Highlights

Positivism is a systematic and scientific approach to studying society.

Early positivists argued for studying individuals like natural sciences.

Social behaviors can be observed, recorded, and quantified.

Positivism allows for the study of cause and effect relationships in society.

Sociologists can test theories through repeated research.

Society is shaped by social institutions like education and family.

Positivists adopt a structural view of society, focusing on the bigger picture.

Positivism is a form of macro sociology, concerned with social forces.

Quantitative data is preferred for its objectivity and scientific nature.

Lab and field experiments are used to establish causal relationships.

Comparative method involves analyzing trends and patterns in official statistics.

Durkheim's research on suicide is a notable example of comparative method.

Surveys with rigid structures are favored for their quantifiability.

Non-participant observations are preferred for their detachment.

Positivist methods can establish cause and effect relationships.

Quantitative data is seen as more objective and generalizable.

Positivist research is favored for policy formulation and decision-making.

Results from positivist methods are reproducible and falsifiable.

Positivist methods may lack validity and be overly deterministic.

Positivism can ignore individual agency and free will.

Fixed approaches may not reflect the diversity of contemporary society.

Positivist research often reduces attitudes and opinions to numerical values.

Examples of positivist research include Durkheim's study on suicide rates.

Census data is often collected using positivist ideologies.

Transcripts

welcome to this tutor to you sociology

topic video on research methods looking

at positivism

positivism is a methodological approach

to research in society that was

developed amongst others by emil

durkheim positivism approaches the study

of society in a systematic and

scientific way

and the argument of early positivists

was that individuals could be studied in

a similar way to the natural sciences

because behaviors could be observed and

recorded in a scientific way

these behaviors or social facts could be

measured and quantified to allow

researchers to study cause and effect

relationships between social

institutions and individuals in society

by using a scientific approach

sociologists would be able to test

theories through repeating research and

checking the findings to make sure that

they were consistent with sociological

theories of behavior

one of the key ideas of positivism is

that society is shaped by social

institutions and that these institutions

things like education family religion

work

shape the behavior of individuals

positivists therefore take a more

structural view of society looking at

the bigger picture rather than the

interactions between individuals

positivism is a form of macro sociology

concerned with the impact of social

forces and how these shape individual

behaviors

as a consequence positivists generally

look to collect quantitative data that

is data in numerical form because they

see it as being more objective and

scientific rather than relying upon a

researcher's interpretation of events

by doing so they believe that society

can be studied in the same way as the

natural sciences and that sociology can

be used to predict social behaviors

as positivists prefer objectivity they

tend to select methods that will provide

researchers with quantitative data that

can be analyzed and trends established

and predictions made

as they view the scientific method as

key they use both lab and field

experiments in their research

both of these methods can provide causal

relationships between factors although

to different degrees based upon the

control over variables

lab experiments have more control while

field experiments are more open to being

influenced by external variables

another method used by positivists is

the comparative method

this involves comparing data usually

official statistics over time different

locations and different social groups to

analyze trends and patterns and behavior

the most notable example of this was

durkheim's research into suicide across

western europe in the late 19th century

other methods used by positivists are

surveys but surveys that have a more

rigid structure such as closed

questionnaires and structured interviews

this is because these methods can be

easily quantified and replicated which

gives them more reliability

finally positivists would prefer

non-participant observations as they are

more detached than participant

observations and behaviours can be

observed from a distance without

researcher interference

of course this is not an exhaustive list

of methods that positivists use but

these are some of the more common

methods

we'll look first at some of the

strengths of positivist methods

they can provide a cause and effect

relationship between events and

behaviors most likely in lab experiments

or correlations between two factors

this is a feature of scientific research

positivist methods also produce

quantitative data that is data in

numerical form and this is seen as being

more objective than qualitative data

because it does not require value

judgments to try and analyze it

it's also seen as being more scientific

which means it may be more likely to be

generalized to the population

and this gives positivist methods a

further advantage

it's preferred by governments and

non-governmental organizations as its

large-scale applications means it can be

used to help formulate social policies

and decision-making

a final strength is that positivist

methods are able to be reproduced by

other researchers and results can be

checked to ensure they are correct

they are also able to be disproved

something which is referred to as the

falsification principle a key element of

scientific research

positivist methods though do have their

limitations they often lack validity

they might demonstrate changes in

behavior but often don't provide a

rationale behind those changes with

judgment being subjective and imposed

upon those being studied which means it

may not be representative of the views

of all of those being studied

it also focuses too heavily on

structural elements of society and can

be seen as deterministic

it ignores the agency and free will of

individuals to choose how they react to

social forces

something that is becoming more relevant

in contemporary society

he has very fixed approaches to research

that don't always reflect the diversity

and fluidity of contemporary society

partly because it searches for a

one-size-fits-all theory to understand

human behavior

and it fails to gain an insight into the

lives of those being studied

people's attitudes and opinions are

often reduced to numerical values

which do not demonstrate the importance

of the meanings and motivations of why

people do things

finally we'll look at some examples of

positivist research the most famous

probably is durkheim's study of suicide

where he compared suicide statistics

across european countries and across

time have found that suicide was

influenced by the level of integration

and regulation individuals were

subjected to

in both crime and education we've come

across a lot of research based upon

positivist ideologies particularly

looking at the rates of offending

achievement and how factors such as

social class ethnicity and gender impact

on those

and in social attitude surveys

how labor is divided in the home

consumer purchasing habits social media

usage and of course the census possibly

the largest piece of social research

conducted in the uk every 10 years

are all based on positivist ideologies

that concludes this tutor sociology

topic video on research methods focusing

on positivism thanks for watching