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Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes positivism?
Which of the following best describes positivism?
- An examination of the constitutive nature of informal and formal institutions and their actors
- A theory that predicts social consequences based on scarcity and decision-making
- A philosophy of science that relies on rational conducts and sensory experience for trustworthy knowledge (correct)
- A social science approach that focuses on the manifest and latent functions of socio-cultural phenomena
What is the main focus of structural functionalism?
What is the main focus of structural functionalism?
- Determining the manifest and latent functions of socio-cultural phenomena (correct)
- Explaining positivism as one of the paradigms in the social sciences
- Examining the constitutive nature of informal and formal institutions and their actors
- Predicting social consequences based on scarcity and decision-making
According to rational choice theory, what is the basis for predicting social consequences?
According to rational choice theory, what is the basis for predicting social consequences?
- Informal and formal institutions and their actors
- Scarcity and decision-making (correct)
- Manifest and latent functions of socio-cultural phenomena
- Rational conducts and sensory experience
What does the term 'positivism' mean in French?
What does the term 'positivism' mean in French?
What is the constitutive nature examined by positivist social science?
What is the constitutive nature examined by positivist social science?
Flashcards
Positivism definition
Positivism definition
A scientific philosophy relying on senses and reason for knowledge.
Structural Functionalism focus
Structural Functionalism focus
Understanding functions of social elements (manifest and latent).
Rational Choice Theory basis
Rational Choice Theory basis
Social outcomes predicted by scarcity and choices.
Positivism's French meaning
Positivism's French meaning
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Positivist social science examines
Positivist social science examines
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Study Notes
Positivism and Social Science
- Positivism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the use of scientific methods to study social phenomena.
- The term 'positivism' comes from the French word 'positif', meaning 'something that is based on fact'.
- Positivist social science examines the constitutive nature of social facts, focusing on observable, measurable, and objective data.
Theoretical Approaches in Sociology
- Structural functionalism focuses on the ways in which social institutions and structures contribute to the stability and functioning of society.
- Rational choice theory predicts social consequences based on the idea that individuals make decisions based on rational calculations of self-interest.
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Description
Test your knowledge on dominant approaches in the social sciences with this quiz. Explore positivist social science paradigms such as structural functionalism, rational choice theory, and institutionalism. Assess your understanding of manifest and latent functions of socio-cultural phenomena.
