PS398 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Postpositivism, Totalitarianism, Emic And Etic
Document Summary
Focuses on verifying a priori hypotheses that are most often stated in quantitative propositions that can be converted into mathematical formulas expressing functional relationships. Primary goal of positivistic inquiry is an explanation that leads to prediction and control of phenomena. Positivism is a function of the modernist era traced to enlightenment period of 17th and 28th centuries. Enlightenment thinkers moved away from medieval and dark age focus on accepting, unquestioningly, the totalitarian force of royal or religious decree. Brought notions of centrality of individual, the world as objectively knowable, and use of language as conveyor of the truth. Positivism has been dominant force in science for over 150 years. Accept one true reality that is apprehendable, identifiable, and measurable (known as naive realism) Researcher and research participant and topic are independent of one another (dualism) By following rigorous, standard procedures, participant and topic can be studied by researcher without bias (objectivism)
