Interpretivism is a theoretical perspective in sociology that interprets human behavior and society based on people's beliefs and experiences rather than external factors. Interpretivists believe that people make their own choices rather than being determined by natural laws or scientific explanations. They study culture and people's lives in great detail through qualitative methods like interviews and observation to understand people's interpretations of the world from their own perspectives. This provides data that is high in validity since it represents people's true experiences, but results may not be generalizable to wider populations. Key aspects of interpretivism include understanding social phenomena through Verstehen, or empathy, and producing theory that represents how people view the world rather than external causes.

1. INTERPRETIVISM

2. Characteristics
 Interpretivist’s are SUBJECTIVE.
 Subjective means looking at something with bias and is value
laden.
 They believe people make own choices and is not connected to
laws of science or nature.
 Research tends to be done in greater detail and looks at culture
and how people live their lives, unlike Positivist’s who tend to
look at general overview, therefore has high validity because it is
a true representation and is trustworthy.
 Theory represents what ought to be or normative.

3.  Interpretivists work out people’s interpretations
of the world by putting themselves in their
shoes, this process is called…
‘VERSTEHEN’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phtbOcM9KWI

4. Advantages and Disadvantages of
Theory
 Validity - Data is trustworthy and honest
 Qualitative – Data is more detailed therefore gives a more in depth into what
is really happening.
 Science can explain people’s actions but interpretivists don’t just want
descriptions they want reasons why.
 Tends to undermine reliability and representativeness.
 Results will be personal and in depth therefore cannot be necessarily
generalised.
 Interpretivists tend to involve emotion and bias in their views but this may
not always be beneficial as they may get in the way of what is really
happening.

5. Research Methods Used
Interpretivist’s tend to use these research methods:
Interviews.
Observation.
Which result in data being:
High in Validity
Qualitative
Empathetic

6. Observation
Advantages -
 If observation is covert this could result in less effects from the
researcher.
 Can see participants in non- artificial environment.
Disadvantages –
 Time.
 Money.
 Cost.
 Ethical issues i.e. Deception if observation is covert.
 Overt observation may result in changes in behaviour.
 Difficult to replicate.
 Maybe unreliable.
 Hard to generalise
 Observer effects

7. Interviews – structured, semi or
none/open or closed questions
Advantages-
 Simple and straightforward.
 Easily gets information that interviewer wants to know.
 Unstructured interviews offer a person the opportunity to develop and
explain their views and thoughts (therefore beneficial for interpretivists and
validity in results.)Cohen and Taylor supported this by Durham Prison study.
 Can provide quantitative and qualitative data therefore can be used by many.
Disadvantages-
 Interviewer bias
 Social Desirability Bias (wanting to present themselves better so may be
untruthful) (Supported by Goffman )
 People can easily lie in interviews therefore affecting validity of results.
 Unstructured interviews make it harder for comparability as are all based on a
personal representation of beliefs, views and attitudes.

8. Shoot ‘em up
Interactive Quiz
http://classtools.net/my/quiz34202.htm

9. Questions
 1)what is the most effective type of interview type for
interpretivists?*Unstructured
 2)Why are unstructured interviews used?*To allow people to develop beliefs
and opinions
 3)What is one advantage of this theory?*Data has high validity
 4)What word is used to describe interaction to gain insight into someone’s
life?*Verstehen
 5)The meanings behind what people do result in being…..?*Non empirical
 6)What S is a disadvantage of interviews?*Social Desirability Bias
 7)When research has bias and is value laden what does this make
it?*Subjective
 8)What does validity mean?*Data is trustworthy and honest
 9)What disadvantage did Goffman agree with?*Social Desirability Bias
 10)What theorist are critical of official statistics?*Marxists and Feminists