I Am Positive About Positivism-Ok

 

 

“I am positive about positivism . . .”   Assignment

Syed Azeem Ahmed @00318003 [email protected]

 

 

“I am positive about positivism . . .” 

Introduction

There

are many fields of the life where research is going on. There are many ways to do

research. Some fields have their own pre-defined set of rules for doing research. As well as some researchers are base on rough ideas and thoughts. The research methodology consists on different ways. It has its own pre defined ways on which we build our assumptions and carry out our work. Research is a systematic way of defining new facts after processing data critically to get out new result. In researching process researchers tries to find a new way to get the answers of those questions which are not answered before. There is a common miss understanding between the qualitative and quantitative types of the research. The word quantitative means that it is something in which we dealing about measurements and statics. Similarly, the term qualitative means that in which we deal about non-numeric things. It has something commonly we do in comparing two things. In research methodology there are different philosophical assumptions that have to be made for solving different problems. The traditional image of research is positivism. In the given paragraphs we are going to read about positivism with the basic understanding. One of the oldest and finest scientific method with which researchers do in the field of science is positivism. This method has been acquired for several hundred years, from the time of Newton, Galileo and Bacon. This method is very old so it has been refined and very much established. In this scientific research method we have basic two pillars to carry out our work:   Problem, common issue or thought.   Objective to get the solution.

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There are many common issues in our society which can be easily solve through our common day to day experiences or may be it needs a complex solution to come out at any point. We can use our personal experiences and feelings. In scientific methods we always aim to find out different issues and their solution by gathering best and accurate information. This process can be easily described in the given figure:

Hypothesis

Test

Outcome

Conclusion

Figure I: Describing how to do research Syed Ahmed [email protected]

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“I am positive about positivism . . .” 

 

Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote Dostoyevsky wrote a great line in Crime and Punishment about this approach that: “  

It is man's unique privilege, among all other organisms. By pursuing falsehood you will arrive at the ” 

truth!  

Joris-Karl Huysmans quoted Huysmans quoted that: “  

Worshiping the Devil is no more insane than worshiping God...It is precisely at the moment when

 positivism is at its high-water high-water mark that mysticism mysticism stirs into life and the follies of occultism begin   ” 

Whatt is as s um Wha umpt ption? ion? The proceed of charming something approved or somewhat that is taken for decided Or The act of accepting or denying anything without any proof

C rea reatting an a ass s um umpt ptions ions t o set an assumption, any nature reality or any issue. After that we have In the first step have to to start collecting our data about the issue, in this step we gather our data from personal experiences, experience s, environment, and people’s thinking people’s thinking and other different sources like written or electronic source. After this step we test and compare our best available data with the problem and try to find out a solution, whether it’s positive or negative. We thoroughly check out our data with the tested results and pre-described set of rules. Then we thoroughly check out the outcome whether the outcome is same as we are expecting or the final result is entirely different. We have to check each and single step with all the best provided inputs and evaluate our answer. Then, finally we can make a conclusion about the outcome. The conclusion will be our final answer of the research. Now, we will take some simple assumptions and justify our above explanations. For this we have to do a Hypothesis (basic assumption) and then we have to collect data about the hypothesis, then we have to make an outcome from our test and then finally we can make our final conclusion about our taken hypothesis. Let’s make a simple and short example on how we can proof the entire explained thing in simple way. Assume that all the swans are white, which a very common thing. This is our hypothesis now go check it whether is there any other colour of swans are exists. We have to go at any park where we can find swans. We found that all the t he swans are white and finally it is confirmed that all the swans are white in the garden. But what happened if some go at any other place and saw that there is a black swan or in black and white colour, then what happened with our hypothesis? Is it going to be wrong or we have to change our assessment again? Our positivism at that time with the best provided data was right because at that condition we saw all swans are white and we made our hypothesis. So, this is a simple and short example to understand the positivism.

Syed Ahmed [email protected]

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 Another important approach in research is Interpretivism (also known as anti-positivists). It states that science cannot be applied at all the fields of our life. We cannot calculate each and everything in our lives with the balance of science. They give importance on individual’s experiences because everyone is different with everyone. We cannot treat everyone with a single theory; this approach may work sometime but not at all every time. Scientific approaches are not accurate to study our society because our natural world is quite different from it. In some cases subjects being objectively studied may not be seem as they are looking to us. So, the researchers collect wrong data which finally result in wrong outcome.  According to (Jamieson Rachel, 2011) 2011) In some cases scientists develop their theory and then they find a method to justify and prove their theory, well in some instances scientists give method and then develop their theory. Well all its depends on us how we are going to prove “yes! I am right”. right”.

How theory det determines ermines me metho thodol dolog og y (T (Ta able I)   Sociologists have different views on society

Sociologists have different approaches in research

Different ways of collecting data Different types of data collected

Requires different ways of analysis the result

In this (table I) we are discussing how to develop a methodology by using a theory. First we have set our approach then we need to collect our data from different sources, then critical analysis of the data is an important part. After critical analysis there will be the result of the process.

Different results get on the same subject

Different sociological theories emerge

We see in the above (table I) that how theory determines methodology. We have pre described set of rules which we must have to follow for our research. It starts from how sociologist is seeing any point, then how he is collecting the data, what are the ways for collecting data, how he is analysing the data then what are the results he gets. Whether it is the same result he is expecting or it is entirely different. Then finally he can emerge a method on his collected data.

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How methodol methodolog og y det determines ermines the ttheory heory (Table (Tabl e IIII)) Sociologist has different approaches in their research In this (table II) we are

Different ways of collecting data

Requires different ways of analysis

Different results can be found on the same subject

Different sociological theories can emerge

Sociologists have different views on the society

discussing how to develop a theory by using a methodology. First we have set our approach then we need to collect our data from different sources, then critical analysis of the data is an important part. After critical analysis there will be the result of the process. Finally we got the theory of our developed method.

Now let’s see our (table II), sociologist have different approaches in doing research, they collect data from different sources like news papers, articles, books, electroni electronic c data, surveys, personal experiences and other research outcomes, then they analyzed it through different ways, analysing is the process where they create evidence on their hypothesis. They compare the collected data with the other people’s people’s work,  work, by doing this they can get different results on their collected data in different conditions, after collecting strong evidence and strong data analysing now they can create a theory on ttheir heir collected data. In research methodology there are two approaches. One is quantitative approach and the other is qualitative approach. In quantitative approach we have to collect data in numbers, statistical these are reliable and can make strong outcome. However, in qualitative method we are collecting data from people’s people’s practises,  practises, idiographic, it is subjective, we discus about the behaviour behaviour of the t he subject.

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“I am positive about positivism . . .” 

 

Well let’s see critically what the difference is in qualitative and quantitative research.

C ontras ontrastt bet between ween Quantita Quantitative tive and Qualita Qualitative tive approaches (Table III) describing the Quantitative and Qualitative methods from different point of views.  views.  Quantitative

Qualitative

Form of data Form of analysis

Numbers Statistical

Feels of analysis Goals of analysis

Cold, bare Nomothetic (i.e., discovery of universal laws) Reliable, Reliable, stable relationships between variables General

practises Illustrative, Interpretative Warm, rich Idiographic (i.e., understanding understanding of behaviour in context) Potentially variable meanings and rules

Product of analysis

 Application of findings Researchers stance  Assumed status of of analysis Research approach

Detached Objective Often deductive

Particular Involved Potentially subjective Often Inductive

 Modifified  Modi ed from Has lam & Mc McG G arty 2003, p. 359

P ractical A pproa pproach ch Now, let’s formulate our theory about why coffee keeps us wake and fresh or we can simply name it “coffee theory” theory”. First we have to assume that drinking coffee can keep us wake and feel us fresh. Now, we will collect our data according to our theory subject. We W e have to check the ingredients of the coffee scientifically. We know that coffee contains caffeine in huge amount. So, after drinking coffee our body’s nerve cells started working as an adenosine (a nucleoside that is a structural component of nucleic acid, it presents in all living cells).  According to (Boutrel Benjamin, PhD; Koob George F., PhD)  PhD)   in the body because of the caffeine the cells cannot sense adenosine. So it speeds up the cell, caffeine blocks the andesine ability to open the brain vessels to constrict, that’s why some headache medicines contains caffeine. These are the verified and proved things which are described by the medical science. However, if a person come and says he/she doesn’t feel asleep after drinking coffee it does not mean that the whole medical science is wrong because of the one person, this is one person’s believe and and experience but in truth caffeine caffeine causes us to awake awake for long time time.. So a single cup of coffee creates a lot of storms in our body. I can also feel this whenever I feel tried I drink a cup of coffee and it makes me fresh. My whole day cannot pass if I don’t  drink coffee in the morning. only to happens withfresh me init the also happens colleagues they drink, soWell muchthis cupisofnot coffees keep them office, class with or in my the Syed Ahmed [email protected]

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home. Well coffee theory is a general and very critical example. If we see it critically we can examine that a cup of coffee can cause lots of things in our mind.  A single cup can convert our mind ffrom rom sleepy dreams and get us in the work to pay our attention. I never seen a person who claims that he/she doesn’t feels sleeper after drinking coffee. I read many people’s comments, surveys and online surveys and everyone is accepting including me that coffee theory is correct. We can also take examples from peoples experiences that at the morning they drink coffee regularly and they feel that they can even work better now for long time. So it’s common practise and scientifically proved that coffee keeps us wake and make us able to work longer. Now we have done and we can make final conclusion from scientific proof’s,  proof’s,   peoples experiences and by our personal experiences experience s that coffee keep us wake and makes us feel fresh. Now, let’s take another assumption that recycle papers can make our environment safe. Now, I have created my hypothesis and I will start collecting data, first I have to find a way of how paper recycling occurs. Then I have to collect information on how much energy is consumed in making paper first time. After this I have to find a way how to collect used papers from different places. I have to study what are the procedures of recycling the paper. Then, I will study that how much energy is consume by paper in recycling, how much our energy is saved and what are the environmental and business benefits. However, for this I have to read several governments recycling policy and their working on this. I have to sort out what are the ways to collect wasted papers and then how will they going to treat. I have to collect several fact sheets on paper recycling. As much I am getting in this research I am going to know how much recycling is useful to the entire globe. Recycling can save thousands of tress, recycling can save tons of fresh water; recycling can save millions of mega watt electricity, recycling can make our planet greener.  According to (Wikipedia, 2011)  2011)  these facts are from different sources. Some calculations show that recycling one ton of newspaper saves about 4,000 kWh 4,000  kWh (14 GJ) (14 GJ) of  of electricity, this may be too high. This is enough electricity to power a 3-bedroom European house for an entire year, or enough energy to heat and air-condition the average North American home for almost six months.  According to (Recycling-guide, 2011) that 2011) that by recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 40% of energy is saved in recycling, about 35% of the municipal solid waste can be save. It reduces the chemical process, it reduces the bleaching process; it makes less water and chemical waste in recycling. However, it also makes our air and environment clean and green. By the data from United States Environment Protection agency (EPA) that 35% less water and 74% less air pollution can be obtain through making paper recycle. In European Union (EU) paper recycling is mature. In 2004 it 64.5% and in 2007 it was 64.5%.

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General Paper Facts by (cityofinglewo (cityofinglewood, od, 2011):  2011):  • 4,100 kilowatts saved per ton-recycled ton-recycled • 60 pounds 60 pounds of air pollution reduced per ton recycled Recycling only 1 ton of paper you save: • 17 trees • 6,953 gallons of water • 463 gallons of oil • 587 pounds of air pollution • 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space • 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy  energy   Above calculations tells us that recycling is important thing which can make our environment safe clean and natural and can save our tress and earth. These calculations are done on very advance labs and they are monitored by different power companies including government and private. We have proved our hypothesis scientifically through calculations. Hence the assumption which I take in start is positive. Now I emphasized people to promote recycling and request them to always use the recycle products because it has proved through scientific calculations that it saves energy, our planet and also our money.

F ina in al out outcome come Positivism increases the decision making power as we discussed earlier e.g. like black and white swans. It has many advantages as well some disadvantages. Beside all the disadvantages, it is still a very simple procedure to follow, which saves time and efforts on the particular case. This approach also helps in gathering data, which makes the complicated data into simple data. This data is easy to understand to the readers as well presenting the data. This type of research avoids the complicated procedure and steps, which directly involve in producing the accurate data to the researcher. However, it may leave the researcher in a short sample of data, which may not enough for the required research because of the nature of the research. In addition, the analyses on that particular data may not be feasible in every type of research like medical research etc (depends on the type of the research). Overall, positivism is a good researching method of gathering the data. It helps the researcher to gathered the data and analyse the data very easily. This data helps the researcher to conclude all the type the data in a very simple form. The statistics of that data is very easy and presentable to the audience. The facts and figures directly show about the theme of the researcher through their considered hypothesis and their outcomes. This will developed a new theory, which makes the researcher to carry on this research to fulfil for f or the future requirements.

Syed Ahmed [email protected]

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Referencing  

Jamieson Rachel .Sociology Jamieson  .Sociology fact sheet. sheet. Sociology Factsheet: Positivism Factsheet: Positivism -vInterpretive. Retrieved from: www.curriculumwww.curriculum- ress.co.uk

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Boutrel Ben Benjamin, jamin, PhD; Koob George F., PhD. May 2004. What Keeps Keeps Us Awake: Awake: the Neuropharmacology of Stimulants and Wakefulness Promoting Medications. SLEEP, Vol. 27, No. 6, 1181-1194

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Archive.org. (2011) Retrieved 14/12/2011, from http://web.archive.org/web/2007 http://web.archiv e.org/web/20070927175746 0927175746/http://www.bir.or /http://www.bir.org/aboutrecycli g/aboutrecycling/index. ng/index. asp

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Wikipedia, 2011.Paper recycling.  recycling.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pap http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_recyclin er_recycling#Energy g#Energy

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Recycling-guide, 2011. Recycling guide.  guide. http://www.recycling-guide.org.u http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/facts.html k/facts.html

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Cityofinglewood,2011.Source:Weyerhaeuser .http://www.cityofinglewood.org/pdfs/pw/ .http://www.cityofinglewood.org/pdfs/pw/ Recycling_Facts.pdf

Syed Ahmed [email protected]

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