At the beginning of the 19th century, the positivist view to study society was questioned by many scientists like Dilthey and Rickert. Non-Positivist Methodologies They argued that the natural world is different from the social world due to some unique factors of human society like meanings, symbols, values, norms, etc. Max Weber criticized this view with his novel theory of non-positivism.
According to this thought, the sociological investigation must emphasize human social values. Non-positivism reflects that scientific approaches are insufficient on their own for accumulating, examining, and clarifying data. It considers the scientific method as completely inappropriate for investigating human behavior.
What do non-positivist methodologies mean?
Non-positivist considers that man with an independent thought process can influence society whereas positivists view society as completely based upon the uniqueness of human culture in terms of meaning, symbols, and motives.
Further, non-positivism is can be learned by mentioning three schools of thought that are symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, and ethnomethodology. Each of these schools focuses on the social interactions with the daily life processes of human beings. Non-Positivist Methodologies
With the learning of human interactions, they advise qualitative methods to inquire about social life rather than quantitative approaches. Apart from Max weber, some other sociologists to consider non-positivism were G H Mead, Herbert Blumer, Alfred Schutz, Harold Garfinkel, etc. Non-Positivist Methodologies
Fundamentals In Non-Positivist Methodologies.
Along with its brief description, it is significant to learn some basics of non-positivism mentioned below:
- Instead of using scientific methods (like those in natural sciences), Non-positivists rely upon using qualitative procedures for social investigation.
- Non-positivism theory commends the understanding of social truth rather than predicting events.
- It majorly adopts an interaction, individual-centric approach.
- Non-positivism has a micro perspective rather than a micro one.
- Non-positivism does prefer qualitative techniques of research. For example, descriptive or ethnographical studies.
- Their main focus is to describe processes.
- Non-positivists learn the central methods characterized by feelings, purposes, goals, and the individual’s analysis of social truth.
- Non-positivism highlights the impossibility of complete objectivity in the study.
Non-positivists were not in favor of formulating generalized universal ideas. Non-Positivist Methodologies
Non-positivists’ Methods/schools of thought.
A. PHENOMENOLOGY.
- Phenomenology means the ‘study of the phenomenon in society.
- It studies the phenomenon on daily basis happening in our social lives
- It arose as a substitute for positivism and Max weber had a big contribution to the development of this stream.
- Phenomenologists contend that the study of natural sciences and social sciences are different. For instance, a human being has a conscious mind but material things do not. Thereby, the approaches of natural science can not be implemented in social sciences.
- They reject generalization, formulation, and any causal explanation of the theory.
B. ETHNOMETHODOLOGY.
- Ethnomethodology means the nonprofessional methods that are used by people daily to achieve their normal lives.
- It was proposed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1940s.
- According to this school of thought, individuals are seen as sensible but they use practical thinking in excelling their everyday lives rather than formal logic.
- It studies common sense knowledge and methods through ordinary members of society.
C. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM.
- The term ‘Symbolic interactionism’ was coined in 1937 by Herbert Blumer.
- This theory of Symbolic interactionism rejects both social and biological determinism.
- Symbolic interactionism mentions that a person on his own creates a social truth with help of meanings developed by interactions.
- Some other sociologists to believe in this concept includes John Dewey, Cooley, and William Thomas.
- Focuses more on languages and symbols as an important feature of all human interactions.
