Theory and Methods

Positivist Theory

• Features of positivism/structuralism
• Macro-theory
• Scientific/rational approach that sees human behaviour as the product of structure we live within in society
• Structured society creates social laws that we have no control over and which dictate our behaviour
• People are 'puppets of society' with patterned behaviour in that groups of people behave in similar, predictable ways
• Positivists believe that in research methods:
• Sociologists should only study what can be operationalized
• Reliability should be high
• Quantitative or statistical data should be produced so that correlations between factors can be established to explain the reasons behind patterned behaviour
• Research subjects should be exposed to standardised stimuli under controlled conditions

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