Positivism in sociological research: USA and UK (1966–1990) ¹

Abstract

Positivism has been declared dead in sociological theory circles, yet questions remain as to its viability among researchers. The authors present diagnostic evidence about positivism in sociological practice through a content analysis of journal articles published in the late 1960s and the late 1980s in the sociological journals of the USA and Britain. Using an index based on seven elements of positivism that were characteristic of the 'theory construction' movement of the late 1960s, the authors find evidence of the effects of time and nation on the use of positivism. Disaggregation of the index reveals that most of the observed change is associated with the elements of 'instrumental' positivism, particularly statistics. The results raise questions about the relationship between theory and research and about sociologists' philosophies of science.

Wither Qualitative/Quantitative?: Grounds for Methodological Convergence

“…I argue, contrarily, that sociological methods have converged. This is supported by recent work that shows that positivist oriented scholarship remains a major presence in American and British sociology (Gartrell and Gartrell, 2002). In practice scholars are doing work that crosses the alleged drivisions.…”

A Pragmatist Lens on Local Planning Practices: The Case of the St. Andrews Community-driven Green Belt

“…Following the waves of industrialization that swept much of Europe and North America in the late 18th century, technocratic rationalism emerged as the principal justification for planning intervention. By contending that 'social problems were apolitical [and] scientific problems [ought] to be solved by experts' (Ross, 1991, p. 404;Gartrell & Gartrell, 2002), planners were able to assume the mantle of experts and emerge as key actors in deciding the public interest. This resulted in the development of a modernistic planning thought, 'where new norms of professional excellence and expertise were taking hold' (Scriver, 2007, p. 76), and according to which 'strict divisions between different land-uses could be unproblematically drawn, and .…”

Co je dnes v sociologii obhajitelné? Prezentismus, historická vize a proč je sociologie užitečná

“…Teprve po prudkém vzestupu pozitivistické vědy (v polovině 20. století) provázanost sociální a historické vědy začíná být problematická" [Mandalios 2000: 389]. "Pozitivizace" sociologie se zvlášť výrazně projevila v USA a její dědictví má nadále silný vliv na současný hlavní proud sociologického bádání, jak dokazují tvrdě kvantitativní American Sociological Review a The American Journal of Sociology [Gartrell -Gartrell 2002]. Má-li historicky orientovaná sociologie v tomto kontextu přežít, musí se stát součástí běžného institucionálního akademického prostředí.…”