Positivism vs Interpretivism

POSITIVISM

• Assumes that society has objective social facts

• Society exerts influence on its members

• Quantitative Data

• Objectivity

INTERPRETIVISM

• Reality is constructed through the meanings created by individuals

• Our actions are the result of our own meanings not

external forces

• Qualitative Data

• Subjective meaning

POSITIVISM

• Macro Approach

• Researchers should remain detached, research should

be value free

• Reliability

• Questionnaires, Structured interviews, Experiments

INTERPRETIVISM

• Micro Approach

• Researcher should develop rapport and empathy

(Verstehen)

• Validity

• Unstructured interviews, Ethnography, Participant

observation