Main Sociological Perspectives (AQA A-Level Sociology): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
15 cards from this deck
Positivism
Positivism
Research approach applying scientific methods to society
Who championed positivism?
Who championed positivism?
Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
What level does positivism operate at?
What level does positivism operate at?
Macro level
Interpretivism
Interpretivism
Approach emphasising understanding meanings & individual actions
Who led the challenge to positivism?
Who led the challenge to positivism?
Max Weber (1864-1920)
Verstehen
Verstehen
To understand - putting self in position of those studied
What level does interpretivism operate at?
What level does interpretivism operate at?
Micro level
Agency in sociology
Agency in sociology
People actively make choices & shape their own lives
Realism as an approach
Realism as an approach
Middle-ground combining positivist & interpretivist strengths
Triangulation
Triangulation
Use of multiple research methods in single study
Who developed structuration theory (1976)?
Who developed structuration theory (1976)?
Anthony Giddens
Structuration view of structure & agency
Structuration view of structure & agency
Cannot be separated; work together in complex ways
Popper's contribution to scientific method
Popper's contribution to scientific method
Falsification principle
Falsification principle
Falsification principle
Theories must be capable of being proved wrong
Methodological pluralism
Methodological pluralism
Modern approach combining multiple perspectives