This document compares and contrasts positivist and interpretive perspectives in social research. Positivists use quantitative methods like surveys and statistics to objectively measure social structures and identify hidden causes of behavior. For example, Durkheim's study of suicide rates examined impacts of economic and social factors. However, positivism is criticized for failing to consider important aspects of human behavior and social life. Interpretivists argue quantitative methods exclude significant issues and characteristics that cannot be addressed through numbers alone. Overall, the document discusses the differences between positivist and interpretivist methodologies in social research.

1. Positivism vs Interpretivism Essay
Compare and contrast positivist and interpretive perspectives underpinning social research–
This essay intends to investigate by comparing and contrasting positivist and interpretive
perspectives that surround social research. It will look into the use of methods such as quantitative
and qualitative research and the effects and outcomes that this has in relation to social research. This
will include the variations amongst them in both a positive and negative light.
Before research can be undertaken the researcher must investigate the various methodologies,
methods, theoretical perspectives and philosophical bases which surrounds the research. This will
then enable researchers to use a wide variety of research methods in order to enhance...show more
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'The individual is relegated to being nothing more than a system outcome, not a thinking and acting
human' (Bryman, 2008)
A researcher looking into the use of positivist methodology would look into the use of methods such
as: survey's, questionnaires and statistic models. They aim to identify and measure social structures;
this type of research can be seen by looking into the study of Durkheim's study of suicide with which
Durkheim was referred to as a positivist. He believed that sociological theories must invest beneath
the surface of phenomena and find out the hidden underlying causes behind behaviour. He claimed
that sociology and its findings should be more than that of a speculation and that it should support
its claims with evidence and statistics, Including important factors which can impact on the data
which has been found. This includes taking into account hidden factors such as; economic
depression, family mortality, and the slave trade all of which have impacted in this study on the
rate of suicide. (Alcock, Margaret, Rowlingson, 2008) These methods have however been heavily
criticised as being a flawed area for social research as they are seen to exclude significant issues in
which it fails to address. (Beckett, 2006) This includes the failure of taking into account essential
characteristics of human behaviour and social life which is unable to
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