The difference between positivism and anti -positivism relates to:
a. whether individuals like or dislike their society
b. whether research methods use statistical data or person-to-person research
c. whether sociological studies can predict or improve society
d. all of the above
I don't like any of the answers, however b is probably the best answer. The crux of the difference is whether we use science in sociology or heuristic methods.
I thought the same too but I was not sure. That was why I asked here. Thanks!
The correct answer is c. whether sociological studies can predict or improve society.
Positivism refers to a sociological approach that believes in using scientific methods and applying objective analysis to study and predict social phenomena. It is based on the idea that the social world operates according to certain laws, and these laws can be discovered and understood through empirical research.
On the other hand, anti-positivism rejects the view that social phenomena can be understood using only scientific and statistical methods. It emphasizes the subjective aspects of human experiences and focuses on understanding social phenomena through personal interpretations and lived experiences. Anti-positivists argue that social research should aim to understand and improve society rather than simply predicting its outcomes.
The correct answer is c. whether sociological studies can predict or improve society.
To understand the difference between positivism and anti-positivism, we need to delve into their key characteristics:
Positivism:
- Positivism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of objective data and scientific methods in understanding social phenomena.
- Positivists believe that sociology should be objective, value-free, and modeled after the natural sciences.
- Positivists focus on gathering empirical evidence and using statistical analysis to arrive at general laws and predictions about society.
- They view sociology as a way to predict and explain social phenomena, and they are interested in exploring the social order, stability, and regularities in society.
Anti-Positivism:
- Anti-positivism, on the other hand, rejects the positivist approach and instead emphasizes the subjective nature of human experiences, meanings, and social interactions.
- Anti-positivists argue that social phenomena cannot be reduced solely to objective data or quantifiable measurements.
- They believe that human behavior and social interactions are influenced by personal experiences, interpretations, values, and social contexts.
- Anti-positivists advocate for qualitative research methods, such as participant observation, interviews, and in-depth case studies, which prioritize understanding unique social phenomena from the perspective of those involved.
- Anti-positivists also contend that sociological research should focus on understanding and interpreting the social world rather than trying to predict or improve society.
Therefore, the correct answer is c. Whether sociological studies can predict or improve society distinguishes positivism and anti-positivism, rather than a preference for or against society (a) or the choice between statistical data or person-to-person research methods (b).