5/25/2010

Focus

Positivism
Dr. Vicente C. Handa

Unambiguous and accurate knowledge of the world (Crotty, 2003 p. 18) Explanation/prediction and control Finding Truth (and proving it through empirical means) Goal of value-neutral science (Crotty, 2003, p. 27)

Assumptions
The basis of positive science (ie, that which is posited) lie in direct experience of what is observed via scientific method (Crotty, 1998, p. 20) Investigator and investigated object are assumed to be independent entities. Scientists will keep the distinction between objective empirically verifiable knowledge and subjective,unverifiable knowledge very much in mind (Crotty, 1998, p. 27).

Assumptions (cont.)
Knowledge is factual (Crotty, 1998, p. 25) Objectivist epistemology -- Truth and meaning reside in objects (Crotty, 1998, p. 42) No statement is meaningful unless it is capable of being verified Scientific knowledge is both accurate & certain (as opposed to opinions and feelings) Replicable findings are true

Assumptions (cont.)
Reality is value-neutral, ahistorical, and cross cultural (Crotty, 1998, p. 40) Scientific knowledge is objective, rather than subjective (Crotty, 1998, p. 27) Real properties can be measured, counted & quantified (Crotty, 1998, p. 28) Importance of objectivity, validity, and generalizability attributed to findings (Crotty, 1998, p. 41)

Major concepts/terms used

Closely linked to empirical science (Crotty, 1998, p. 27) Logical empiricism Objectivist Mathematised world (Crotty, 1998, p. 27)

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Major concepts
Primarily interested in synthetic statements propositions in which what is predicated of the subject is not included in its definition (Crotty, 1998, p. 25) Synthetic statements can be verified by experience (sense-data) (Crotty, 1998, p. 25) Verification principle: no statement is meaningful unless it is capable of being verified (Crotty, 1998 p.25)

Contributing scholars
Auguste Comte (1798-1857) seen as founder of positivism (Crotty, 1998, p. 23)
Believed that universality of method can unify the practice of science (Crotty, 1998, p. 21) natural scientific methods applied to social sciences (Crotty, 1998, p. 24)

Henri de Saint-Simon (1817-1824) concerned with reconstruction of society (Crotty, 1998, p. 21) Francis Bacon (1561-1626) observation & experiment to establish scientific laws (Crotty, 1998, p. 23) Vienna Circle (1920s-30s) applied mathematical principles to philosophy (Crotty, 1998, p. 24) Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) logical analysis of propositions (Crotty, 1998, p. 24)

Methodologies specific to framework

Experimental/manipulative research Survey research Chiefly quantitative methods scientific method Verification of hypotheses

Methods
Observation, experiment, comparison Comtes scientific method (Crotty, 1998, p. 22) Measurement and scaling Statistical analysis Form a hypothesis (stated in propositional form) and prove it quantitatively through sampling, measuring etc.

Critique
Positivists are claimed to make excessive assumptions and claims to the validity and accuracy of scientific knowledge How can we say what is true with any certitude? Doesnt take into account how people make meaning/culturally influenced interpretations

Research questions
Is there a positive link between years of service and pay scale?

Reference: Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.