LESSON 2: POSITIVISM & INTERPRETIVISM

• I. POSITIVISM

  • Originates from empiricist philosophy; “Can you prove it?"
• NATURAL SCIENCE

  • logical analysis/relations, scientific justification
  • a need for statistics and generalizations
  • craves structure and control
• DATA COLLECTION METHODS

  • Survey
  • Interview
  • Observation
  • Pre and Post Intervention Assessments
• Data analysis:

  Statistical analysis

  Qualitative Analysis
• Evidence-based practice - advocating for interventions that are supported by empirical research and scientific evidence. This ensures that social workers employ strategies and interventions that have been proven effective, thereby increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes for clients and communities
• Continual Development - The emphasis on measurement and evaluation encourages continuous improvement in social work practice. Social workers can use data to identify areas for improvement, adjust interventions based on feedback, and stay updated with the latest research findings. This commitment to ongoing learning and adaptation is essential for meeting the evolving needs of clients and communities
• Objective Evaluation and Assessment - Emphasizing measurable outcomes and objective evaluation, positivism helps social workers to accurately assess the needs of their clients and the impact of their interventions. This objective approach reduces biases and ensures that decisions are made based on data and evidence rather than personal opinions or unverified theories.
• Interpretivism - a philosophical paradigm that ontologically emphasizes how an individual actively constructs their own notions of reality through their cognition (Lincoln and Guba, 1985; Schwandt, 1997) resulting in the existence of multiple realities
• (TRUE OR FALSE)

  
  

  TRUE - Because of the complexities of individuals and social subject, there is often more than one truth.
• INTERPRETIVISM IS more concerned with meaning, voice, standpoint, experience, thoughts, and feelings expressed by the individual study
• DATA COLLECTION METHODS

  • Semi-structured interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Participant observation
  • Document analysis
• DATA ANALYSIS

  • Descriptive analysis
  • Inferential analysis
  • Thematic analysis
  • SWOT analysis
• Strengths of Positivism

  • Wide Coverage and Efficiency
  • Generalizability and Replication
  • Predictive Capacity
  • Precision and Time Efficiency
  • Contribution to Scientific Research
  • Reliability and Consistency
  • Enhancement of Validity
• Weaknesses of positivism

  • Emphasis on Quantifiable Data
  • Limits the Understanding of Complex Human Behavior
  • Overlook of Context
• Interpretivism has naturalistic approach of data collection such as interviews and observations
• DATA COLLECTION METHODS OF INTERPRETIVISM

  • Semi-structured interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Participant observation
  • Document analysis
• Strengths of interpretivism

  • does not focus on isolating and objectively measuring variables or on developing generalizations
  • Rich, In-depth Understanding
  • Contextual sensitivity
  • Flexibility
  • Participant empowerment
  • Challenge assumptions
• Weaknesses of interpretivism

  • Bias or limitations in the research process in regards to the researcher’s reflexivity 
  • Subjectivity
  • Generalizability
  • Difficulty in replication
  • Time and resource intensive
  • Lack of predictive power