Positivist approach to research

Positivist approach to research in research methodology also known as Positivism.

1. Introduction Positivist approach to research By Tanveer raza khan

2. Positivism approach of research Roots of research, as we know it, can be traced  back to Bacon (1561) and Descartes (1596 ). Natural word is different from social word These roots founded research that is known as  Positivistic research or Positivism Positivism is known as the natural scientist  approach to research. In 19 th century French philosopher Auguste Comte use the term positivism in his book “The course in positive philosophy” and “A general view of positivism”. He believed that all knowledge is based on experience and can be advance only by means of observations and experiment.

3. Key points of positivism positivism is based on the idea that science is the only way to learn about the truth. . It is an approach to study society that relies specifically on scientifically evidences, experiment and statistics to reveal a true nature of society works or operates. positivist thinker adopt scientific method as a means of knowledge generation.

4. Principles of positivism No differences in the logic of inquiry Research should aim to explain and predict Research should be empirically observable via human senses Inductive reasoning should be used to develop hypotheses Common sense should not be allowed to bias the research findings Science must be value-free and it should be judged only by logic

5. Positivism as a philosophy The positivism research philosophy is difficult to explain in a precise manner In its essence, positivism is based on the idea that science is the only way to learn about the truth. It adheres to the view that only ‘factual’ knowledge gain through observation including measurement is trustworthy. Positivist studies the role of data collection and interpretation in objective way. Positivism depends on quantifiable observation that lead to statistical analysis. As a philosophy positivism is in accordance with empiricist view ( that knowledge stems from human experience).  

6. Positivism as a Philosophy Positivism Role of researcher objective analyst Working with an observable social reality the end  product can be law-like generalizations similar  to those produced by the physical and natural  scientist ( Remenyi et al., 1998) The researcher is independent and neither affects  nor is affected by the subject of the research Highly structured methodology Quantifiable observations that lend themselves to  statistical analysis.. Complexity is reduced to a series of law-like  generalizations this leads to interpretivism  

7. Positivism as a Philosophy Positivistic research, whether natural or social  science oriented, seeks facts Results of positivistic research should be laws factual exact precise Absolute Objectivity is required as far as possible

8. Any Question ?