interpretivism

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology- is also a type of interpretivism

• Interpretivist sociologists do not believe that sociology should model itself on what ?

• interpretivists criticise positivism's 'scientific' approach as i___ or even as completely unsuited to what

• Interpretivist sociologists do not believe that sociology should model itself on the natural sciences.

• interpretivists criticise positivism's 'scientific' approach as inadequate or even as completely unsuited to the study of human beings.

the subject matter of sociology

• Interpretivists argue that the subject matter of sociology ( the main focus) is m___ s____ a___, and that we can only understand it by successfully interpreting the what?

• Interpretivists say sociology is about u____ i____ meanings, not e___ c___.

• In their view, why is sociology is not a science?

the subject matter of sociology

• Interpretivists argue that the subject matter of sociology ( the main focus) is meaningful social action, and that we can only understand it by successfully interpreting the meanings and motives of the actors involved.

• Interpretivists say sociology is about unobservable internal meanings, not external causes.

• In their view, sociology is not a science, because science only deals with laws of cause and effect, and not human meanings.

the subject matter of sociology

• many interpretivists completely reject the use of natural science methods and explanations as a m___ for sociology.

• They argue that there is a fundamental difference between the subject matter (focus) of the natural sciences and that of sociology - what is this ? (talk about consciousness )

the subject matter of sociology

• many interpretivists completely reject the use of natural science methods and explanations as a model for sociology.

• They argue that there is a fundamental difference between the subject matter (focus) of the natural sciences and that of sociology:

  • Natural science studies matter, which has no consciousness. As such, its behaviour can be explained as a straightforward reaction to an external stimulus. For example, an apple falls to the ground because of the force of gravity, It has no consciousness, and no choice about its behaviour.

  • Sociology studies people, who do have consciousness. People make sense of and construct their world by attaching meanings to it. Their actions can only be understood in terms of these meanings, and meanings are internal to people's consciousness, not external stimuli - they are ideas or constructs, not things.

the subject matter of sociology

• Unlike matter, people have f____ w____ and can exercise c___.

• As G.H. M____ argued, rather than responding a____ to e____ stimuli, human beings interpret the m____ of a stimulus and then c_____ how to r___ to it.

• give the red traffic light example

the subject matter of sociology

• Unlike matter, people have free will and can exercise choice.

• As G.H. Mead argued, rather than responding automatically to external stimuli, human beings interpret the meaning of a stimulus and then choose how to respond to it.

• For example, when a driver sees a red light, they interpret it as meaning ‘stop’. However, this does not fix their behaviour—they could still choose to stop or ignore it. Their action depends on the meaning they give the situation, such as avoiding danger or escaping pursuit. Therefore, stopping at a red light is not caused by an outside force, but by the driver interpreting the rule and choosing how to act.

the subject matter of sociology

• For interpretivists individuals are not p____ on a s____, manipulated by what, as who believes

• but a____ (independent) beings who c___their social world through the m____ they give to it.

• The job of the sociologist therefore is to do what ?

the subject matter of sociology

• For interpretivists individuals are not puppets on a string, manipulated by supposed external 'social facts', as positivists believe,

• but autonomous (independent) beings who construct their social world through the meanings they give to it.

• The job of the sociologist therefore is to uncover these meanings.

Verstehen and qualitative research

• They argue that to discover the meanings people give to their actions, we need to see the world from their v____.

• For interpretivists, this involves abandoning the d____ and o____ favoured by positivists.

• Instead, we must put ourselves in the p____ of the a____, using what W____ calls v____ or e____ u____ to grasp what?

• For this reason, interpretivists favour the use of q_____ methods and data such as what 3 things

• These methods produce r____, more p___ d____ high in v____ and give the sociologist a s____ understanding of the a___ meanings and life-world.

Verstehen and qualitative research

• They argue that to discover the meanings people give to their actions, we need to see the world from their viewpoint.

• For interpretivists, this involves abandoning the detachment and objectivity favoured by positivists.

• Instead, we must put ourselves in the place of the actor, using what Weber calls verstehen or empathetic understanding to grasp their meanings.

• For this reason, interpretivists favour the use of qualitative methods and data such as participant observation, unstructured interviews and personal documents.

• These methods produce richer, more personal data high in validity and give the sociologist a subjective understanding of the actor's meanings and life-world.

Types of interpretivism

• All interpretivists seek to understand what ?

• However, they are divided about whether or not we can combine this understanding with what?

• what are 2 types of interpretivism ?

Types of interpretivism

• All interpretivists seek to understand actors' meanings.

• However, they are divided about whether or not we can combine this understanding with positivist-style causal explanation of human behaviour.

2 types of interpretivism :

• interactionists

• Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists

Types of interpretivism - Interactionists

• believe that we can have c____ explanations. However, they reject the positivist view that we should have a what

• G____ and S____ (1968) argue that this risks what, so we end up d____ the r___ we are seeking to capture.

• Instead, G____ and S____ favour a 'b___-u___' approach, or g___ theory. Rather than entering the research with a f____ h____ from the s___ (when we know l___ about the topic we are researching), our ideas e____ g____ from the observations we make during the course of the research itself.

• These ideas can then be used later to produce what

Types of interpretivism - Interactionists

• believe that we can have causal explanations. However, they reject the positivist view that we should have a definite hypothesis before we start our research.

• Glaser and Strauss (1968) argue that this risks imposing our own view of what is important, rather than taking the actors' viewpoint, so we end up distorting the reality we are seeking to capture.

• Instead, Glaser and Strauss favour a 'bottom-up' approach, or grounded theory. Rather than entering the research with a fixed hypothesis from the start (when we know little about the topic we are researching), our ideas emerge gradually from the observations we make during the course of the research itself.

• These ideas can then be used later to produce testable hypotheses of the sort favoured by positivists.

Types of interpretivism - Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists

• Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists such as G____ completely reject the possibility of what

• They take a r____ a____-s____ view, arguing that society is not a r___ t___ 'out there d____ our a___. In this view, social reality is simply what ?

• As such, society is not an e____ force - it exists only in people's c____.

• Therefore, in this view, the subject matter of sociology can only consist of the i____ p____ that people use to make s____ of the world.

• Because people's actions are not governed by e____ causes, there is no possibility of c____-and-e_____ explanations of the kind sought by positivists.

Types of interpretivism - Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists

• Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists such as Garfinkel completely reject the possibility of causal explanations of human behaviour.

• They take a radically anti-structuralist view, arguing that society is not a real thing 'out there determining our actions. In this view, social reality is simply the shared meanings or knowledge of its members.

• As such, society is not an external force - it exists only in people's consciousness.

• Therefore, in this view, the subject matter of sociology can only consist of the interpretive procedures that people use to make sense of the world.

• Because people's actions are not governed by external causes, there is no possibility of cause-and-effect explanations of the kind sought by positivists.

Interpretivism and suicide

• The interactionist J____ D____ (1967) rejects what positivist idea ?

• Individuals have f____ w___ and they choose how to act on the basis of m___.

• To understand suicide, therefore, we must do what ?, instead of i____ our own m___ onto the situation.

• Douglas also rejects D____ use of q____ data from o____ s___- these are not objective facts, but simply s____ c____ resulting from the way c____ l___ certain deaths as s____

• Instead, Douglas proposes we use what, to reveal the actors' m____ and give us a better idea of what than the o____ s____.

Interpretivism and suicide

• The interactionist Jack Douglas (1967) rejects the positivist idea of external social facts determining our behaviour.

• Individuals have free will and they choose how to act on the basis of meanings.

• To understand suicide, therefore, we must uncover its meanings for those involved, instead of imposing our own meanings onto the situation.

• Douglas also rejects Durkheims use of quantitative data from official statistics- these are not objective facts, but simply social constructions resulting from the way coroners label certain deaths as suicides,

• Instead, Douglas proposes we use qualitative data from case studies of suicides, to reveal the actors' meanings and give us a better idea of the real rate of suicide than the official statistics.

Interpretivism and suicide

• Like Douglas, the e_____ J, M_____ A____ (1978) rejects the idea that what determines behaviour, and agrees that statistics are s____ c____.

• Unlike Douglas, however, Atkinson argues that we can never know what, even using qualitative methods, since we can never know for sure what m____ the d___ held.

• For Atkinson, the only thing we can study about suicide is the way that the l____ make sense of deaths - the i_____ p____ coroners use to c____ deaths.

• For ethnomethodologists, members of society have a stock of taken-for-granted assumptions with which they make sense of situations - including deaths. The sociologist's role is to uncover what?

Interpretivism and suicide

• Like Douglas, the ethnomethodologist J, Maxwell Atkinson (1978) rejects the idea that external social facts determine behaviour, and agrees that statistics are socially constructed.

• Unlike Douglas, however, Atkinson argues that we can never know the 'real rate' of suicide, even using qualitative methods, since we can never know for sure what meanings the deceased held.

• For Atkinson, the only thing we can study about suicide is the way that the living make sense of deaths - the interpretive procedures coroners use to classify deaths.

• For ethnomethodologists, members of society have a stock of taken-for-granted assumptions with which they make sense of situations - including deaths. The sociologist's role is to uncover what this knowledge is and how coroners use it to arrive at a verdict.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Postmodernists also argue against the idea of a scientific sociology.

• This is because they regard natural science as simply a meta-narrative. What does this mean?

• If this is so, there is no particular reason why we should adopt science as a model for sociology.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Postmodernists also argue against the idea of a scientific sociology.

• This is because they regard natural science as simply a meta-narrative. Despite its claim to have special access to the truth, science is just one more "big story' / someone opinion, its account of the world is no more valid than any other.

• If this is so, there is no particular reason why we should adopt science as a model for sociology.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• given the postmodernist view that there are as many different t____ as there are p____ of v____, why is a scientific approach is dangerous ?

• Hence a scientific sociology not only makes false claims about having the truth, it is also a form of d____.

• For example, in the former S____ U____, Marxism - a theory claiming to have discovered scientifically the truth about the ideal society - was used to justify what

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• given the postmodernist view that there are as many different truths as there are points of view, a scientific approach is dangerous because it claims it’s the truth and therefore excludes other points of view.

• Hence a scientific sociology not only makes false claims about having the truth, it is also a form of domination.

• For example, in the former Soviet Union, Marxism - a theory claiming to have discovered scientifically the truth about the ideal society - was used to justify coercion and oppression.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Poststructuralist feminists share this view of scientific sociology.

• They argue that the quest for a single, scientific feminist theory is a form of d____, since it covertly e__ many groups of women.

• Some other feminists argue that the quantitative scientific methods favoured by positivists are also o____ and cannot capture the reality of women's e____.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Poststructuralist feminists share this view of scientific sociology.

• They argue that the quest for a single, scientific feminist theory is a form of domination, since it covertly excludes many groups of women.

• Some other feminists argue that the quantitative scientific methods favoured by positivists are also oppressive and cannot capture the reality of women's experiences.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Some writers also argue that science is an u____ model for sociology to follow because, in practice, science has not always led to the p____ that positivists believed it would.

• For example, the rise of a ‘r___ s___’, where science has created new dangers like what , has challenged the belief that science always brings p___ benefits to humanity.

• If science produces such n____ c____, it is argued, it would be i____ for sociology to adopt it as a m____.

Postmodernism, feminism and scientific sociology

• Some writers also argue that science is an undesirable model for sociology to follow because, in practice, science has not always led to the progress that positivists believed it would.

• For example, the rise of a ‘risk society’, where science has created new dangers like nuclear weapons and global warming, has challenged the belief that science always brings positive benefits to humanity.

• If science produces such negative consequences, it is argued, it would be inappropriate for sociology to adopt it as a model.

what is science

• Although interpretivists reject the positivist view that sociology is a science, they tend to agree with what

• As we have seen above, positivists see natural science as i____ r____ or v____ applied to the study of observable patterns.

• However, not everyone accepts the positivists' portrayal of the natural sciences. A number of sociologists, philosophers and historians have put forward quite different pictures of science.

We now examine three of these views, which are what ?

• Karl popper

• Thomas Kuhn

• realism, science and sociology

what is science

• Although interpretivists reject the positivist view that sociology is a science, they tend to agree with the positivists' description of the natural sciences.

• As we have seen above, positivists see natural science as inductive reasoning or verificationism applied to the study of observable patterns.

• However, not everyone accepts the positivists' portrayal of the natural sciences. A number of sociologists, philosophers and historians have put forward quite different pictures of science.

We now examine three of these views, and we consider what implications each one has for whether sociology can or should be a science :

• Karl popper

• Thomas Kuhn

• realism, science and sociology