Positivism and PostPositivism

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Positivism and Post-Positivism
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How do we come to know the world?
Epistemology

• the philosophy of knowing
• an approach to knowing

Methodology
How do we know?
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC
• science is MECHANISTIC

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC
• science is MECHANISTIC
• science uses METHODS

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC
• science is MECHANISTIC
• science uses METHODS
• science only deals with what we can see or
  measure - EMPIRICISM

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC
• science is MECHANISTIC
• science uses METHODS
• science only deals with what we can see or
  measure - EMPIRICISM
• the best way to learn the truth is to EXPERIMENT

Positivist View
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The positivist view of research

• science is a way to learn the TRUTH
• science is DETERMINISTIC
• science is MECHANISTIC
• science uses METHODS
• science only deals with what we can see or
  measure - EMPIRICISM
• the best way to learn the truth is to EXPERIMENT
• science is OBJECTIVE

Positivist View
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A post-positivist view of research

• Similarity between common sense and science

Post-Positivist View
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A post-positivist view of research

• Similarity between common sense and science
• NATURAL SELECTION model of knowing

random variation
selective retention
Post-Positivist View
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A post-positivist view of research

• Similarity between common sense and science
• NATURAL SELECTION model of knowing
• MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES and TRIANGULATION

Post-Positivist View
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A post-positivist view of research

• Similarity between common sense and science
• NATURAL SELECTION model of knowing
• MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES and TRIANGULATION
• Observation is THEORY-LADEN

Post-Positivist View
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A post-positivist view of research

• Similarity between common sense and science
• NATURAL SELECTION model of knowing
• MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES and TRIANGULATION
• Observation is THEORY-LADEN
• NONREDUCTIONIST

Post-Positivist View
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Critical Realism

• believe theres a reality that we should try to
  get right
• critical of our ability to ever get it perfectly
  right

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