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Postpositivism

December 07, 2023

For one of its specific applications, see Postpositivism (international relations).

Postpositivism or postempiricism is a metatheoretical stance that critiques and amends positivism[1] and has impacted theories and practices across philosophy, social sciences, and various models of scientific inquiry. While positivists emphasize independence between the researcher and the researched person (or object), postpositivists argue that theories, hypotheses, background knowledge and values of the researcher can influence what is observed.[2] Postpositivists pursue objectivity by recognizing the possible effects of biases.[2][3][4] While positivists emphasize quantitative methods, postpositivists consider both quantitative and qualitative methods to be valid approaches.[4]

Philosophy edit

Epistemology edit

Postpositivists believe that human knowledge is based not on a priori assessments from an objective individual,[4] but rather upon human conjectures. As human knowledge is thus unavoidably conjectural, the assertion of these conjectures are warranted, or more specifically, justified by a set of warrants, which can be modified or withdrawn in the light of further investigation. However, postpositivism is not a form of relativism, and generally retains the idea of objective truth.

Ontology edit

Postpositivists believe that a reality exists, but, unlike positivists, they believe reality can be known only imperfectly.[2][3] Postpositivists also draw from social constructionism in forming their understanding and definition of reality.[3]

Axiology edit

While positivists believe that research is or can be value-free or value-neutral, postpositivists take the position that bias is undesired but inevitable, and therefore the investigator must work to detect and try to correct it. Postpositivists work to understand how their axiology (i.e. values and beliefs) may have influenced their research, including through their choice of measures, populations, questions, and definitions, as well as through their interpretation and analysis of their work.[3]

History edit

Historians identify two types of positivism: classical positivism, an empirical tradition first described by Henri de Saint-Simon and Auguste Comte in the first half of the 19th century,[5][1] and logical positivism, which is most strongly associated with the Vienna Circle, which met near Vienna, Austria, in the 1920s and 1930s.[3] Postpositivism is the name D.C. Phillips[3] gave to a group of critiques and amendments which apply to both forms of positivism.[3]

One of the first thinkers to criticize logical positivism was Karl Popper. He advanced falsification in lieu of the logical positivist idea of verificationism.[3] Falsificationism argues that it is impossible to verify that beliefs about universals or unobservables are true, though it is possible to reject false beliefs if they are phrased in a way amenable to falsification.

In 1965, Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn had a debate as Thomas Kuhn's theory did not incorporate this idea of falsification. It has influenced contemporary research methodologies.

Thomas Kuhn is credited with having popularized and at least in part originated the post-empiricist philosophy of science.[6] Kuhn's idea of paradigm shifts offers a broader critique of logical positivism, arguing that it is not simply individual theories but whole worldviews that must occasionally shift in response to evidence.[3]

Postpositivism is not a rejection of the scientific method, but rather a reformation of positivism to meet these critiques. It reintroduces the basic assumptions of positivism: the possibility and desirability of objective truth, and the use of experimental methodology. The work of philosophers Nancy Cartwright and Ian Hacking are representative of these ideas.[citation needed] Postpositivism of this type is described in social science guides to research methods.[7]

Structure of a postpositivist theory edit

Robert Dubin describes the basic components of a postpositivist theory as being composed of basic "units" or ideas and topics of interest, "laws of interactions" among the units, and a description of the "boundaries" for the theory.[3] A postpositivist theory also includes "empirical indicators" to connect the theory to observable phenomena, and hypotheses that are testable using the scientific method.[3]

According to Thomas Kuhn, a postpositivist theory can be assessed on the basis of whether it is "accurate", "consistent", "has broad scope", "parsimonious", and "fruitful".[3]

Main publications edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Bergman, Mats (2016). "Positivism". The International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy. pp. 1–5. doi:10.1002/9781118766804.wbiect248. ISBN 9781118766804.
  2. ^ a b c Robson, Colin (2002). Real World Research. A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers (Second ed.). Malden: Blackwell. p. 624. ISBN 978-0-631-21305-5.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Miller, Katherine (2007). Communication theories : perspectives, processes, and contexts (2nd ed.). Beijing: Peking University Press. pp. 35–45. ISBN 9787301124314.
  4. ^ a b c Taylor, Thomas R.; Lindlof, Bryan C. (2011). Qualitative communication research methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE. pp. 5–13. ISBN 978-1412974738.
  5. ^ "Auguste Comte". Sociology Guide. from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  6. ^ Thomas, David 1979 Naturalism and social sciences, ch. Paradigms and social science, p.161
  7. ^ Trochim, William. "Social Research Methods Knowledge Base". socialresearchmethods.net.

References edit

  • Alexander, J.C. (1995), Fin De Siecle Social Theory: Relativism, Reductionism and The Problem of Reason, London; Verso.
  • Phillips, D.C. & Nicholas C. Burbules (2000): Postpositivism and Educational Research. Lanham & Boulder: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
  • Zammito, John H. (2004): A Nice Derangement of Epistemes. Post-positivism in the study of Science from Quine to Latour. Chicago & London: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Popper, K. (1963), Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge, London; Routledge.
  • Moore, R. (2009), Towards the Sociology of Truth, London; Continuum.

External links edit

  • Positivism and Post-positivism

December 07, 2023
postpositivism, specific, applications, international, relations, postempiricism, metatheoretical, stance, that, critiques, amends, positivism, impacted, theories, practices, across, philosophy, social, sciences, various, models, scientific, inquiry, while, po. For one of its specific applications see Postpositivism international relations Postpositivism or postempiricism is a metatheoretical stance that critiques and amends positivism 1 and has impacted theories and practices across philosophy social sciences and various models of scientific inquiry While positivists emphasize independence between the researcher and the researched person or object postpositivists argue that theories hypotheses background knowledge and values of the researcher can influence what is observed 2 Postpositivists pursue objectivity by recognizing the possible effects of biases 2 3 4 While positivists emphasize quantitative methods postpositivists consider both quantitative and qualitative methods to be valid approaches 4 Contents 1 Philosophy 1 1 Epistemology 1 2 Ontology 1 3 Axiology 2 History 3 Structure of a postpositivist theory 4 Main publications 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksPhilosophy editEpistemology edit Postpositivists believe that human knowledge is based not on a priori assessments from an objective individual 4 but rather upon human conjectures As human knowledge is thus unavoidably conjectural the assertion of these conjectures are warranted or more specifically justified by a set of warrants which can be modified or withdrawn in the light of further investigation However postpositivism is not a form of relativism and generally retains the idea of objective truth Ontology edit Postpositivists believe that a reality exists but unlike positivists they believe reality can be known only imperfectly 2 3 Postpositivists also draw from social constructionism in forming their understanding and definition of reality 3 Axiology edit While positivists believe that research is or can be value free or value neutral postpositivists take the position that bias is undesired but inevitable and therefore the investigator must work to detect and try to correct it Postpositivists work to understand how their axiology i e values and beliefs may have influenced their research including through their choice of measures populations questions and definitions as well as through their interpretation and analysis of their work 3 History editHistorians identify two types of positivism classical positivism an empirical tradition first described by Henri de Saint Simon and Auguste Comte in the first half of the 19th century 5 1 and logical positivism which is most strongly associated with the Vienna Circle which met near Vienna Austria in the 1920s and 1930s 3 Postpositivism is the name D C Phillips 3 gave to a group of critiques and amendments which apply to both forms of positivism 3 One of the first thinkers to criticize logical positivism was Karl Popper He advanced falsification in lieu of the logical positivist idea of verificationism 3 Falsificationism argues that it is impossible to verify that beliefs about universals or unobservables are true though it is possible to reject false beliefs if they are phrased in a way amenable to falsification In 1965 Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn had a debate as Thomas Kuhn s theory did not incorporate this idea of falsification It has influenced contemporary research methodologies Thomas Kuhn is credited with having popularized and at least in part originated the post empiricist philosophy of science 6 Kuhn s idea of paradigm shifts offers a broader critique of logical positivism arguing that it is not simply individual theories but whole worldviews that must occasionally shift in response to evidence 3 Postpositivism is not a rejection of the scientific method but rather a reformation of positivism to meet these critiques It reintroduces the basic assumptions of positivism the possibility and desirability of objective truth and the use of experimental methodology The work of philosophers Nancy Cartwright and Ian Hacking are representative of these ideas citation needed Postpositivism of this type is described in social science guides to research methods 7 Structure of a postpositivist theory editRobert Dubin describes the basic components of a postpositivist theory as being composed of basic units or ideas and topics of interest laws of interactions among the units and a description of the boundaries for the theory 3 A postpositivist theory also includes empirical indicators to connect the theory to observable phenomena and hypotheses that are testable using the scientific method 3 According to Thomas Kuhn a postpositivist theory can be assessed on the basis of whether it is accurate consistent has broad scope parsimonious and fruitful 3 Main publications editKarl Popper 1934 Logik der Forschung rewritten in English as The Logic of Scientific Discovery 1959 Thomas Kuhn 1962 The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Karl Popper 1963 Conjectures and Refutations Ian Hacking 1983 Representing and Intervening Andrew Pickering 1984 Constructing Quarks Peter Galison 1987 How Experiments End Nancy Cartwright 1989 Nature s Capacities and Their MeasurementSee also editAntipositivism Philosophy of science Scientism Sociology of scientific knowledgeNotes edit a b Bergman Mats 2016 Positivism The International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy pp 1 5 doi 10 1002 9781118766804 wbiect248 ISBN 9781118766804 a b c Robson Colin 2002 Real World Research A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner Researchers Second ed Malden Blackwell p 624 ISBN 978 0 631 21305 5 a b c d e f g h i j k l Miller Katherine 2007 Communication theories perspectives processes and contexts 2nd ed Beijing Peking University Press pp 35 45 ISBN 9787301124314 a b c Taylor Thomas R Lindlof Bryan C 2011 Qualitative communication research methods 3rd ed Thousand Oaks Calif SAGE pp 5 13 ISBN 978 1412974738 Auguste Comte Sociology Guide Archived from the original on 7 September 2008 Retrieved 2 October 2008 Thomas David 1979 Naturalism and social sciences ch Paradigms and social science p 161 Trochim William Social Research Methods Knowledge Base socialresearchmethods net References editAlexander J C 1995 Fin De Siecle Social Theory Relativism Reductionism and The Problem of Reason London Verso Phillips D C amp Nicholas C Burbules 2000 Postpositivism and Educational Research Lanham amp Boulder Rowman amp Littlefield Publishers Zammito John H 2004 A Nice Derangement of Epistemes Post positivism in the study of Science from Quine to Latour Chicago amp London The University of Chicago Press Popper K 1963 Conjectures and Refutations The Growth of Scientific Knowledge London Routledge Moore R 2009 Towards the Sociology of Truth London Continuum External links editPositivism and Post positivism Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Postpositivism amp oldid 1170991492, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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