The Foundations of Social Research Ch 4

The Foundations of Social The Foundations of Social ResearchResearch

Michael CrottyMichael Crotty

Interpretivism Part IInterpretivism Part I


Crotty quickly points out that we should Crotty quickly points out that we should revisit our table (p. 5) in chapter one and revisit our table (p. 5) in chapter one and examine the second column:examine the second column:

In this chapter, rather than dealing in the In this chapter, rather than dealing in the very broad realm of epistemology, we are very broad realm of epistemology, we are going to be dealing in a more narrow realm going to be dealing in a more narrow realm of theoretical perspectives and of theoretical perspectives and methodologies, meaning that both methodologies, meaning that both theoretically and methodologically, there is theoretically and methodologically, there is more than one epistemological position that more than one epistemological position that can be adopted for interpretivism.can be adopted for interpretivism.


So we want to begin thinking about So we want to begin thinking about interpretivism as a theoretical interpretivism as a theoretical perspective in contradistinction to perspective in contradistinction to positivism.positivism.

The interpretive approach looks for The interpretive approach looks for culturally derived and historically culturally derived and historically situated interpetations of the social situated interpetations of the social life world.life world.


Max Weber (pronounced Vay-ber) concerned Max Weber (pronounced Vay-ber) concerned with…Verstehen in the social sciences…with…Verstehen in the social sciences…

Verstehen Verstehen (understanding) v.(understanding) v. ErklarenErklaren (explaining) (explaining) Wilhelm Dilthey clearly contrasts the twoWilhelm Dilthey clearly contrasts the two

Natural reality and social reality are in Natural reality and social reality are in themselves different kinds of reality and their themselves different kinds of reality and their investigation therefore requires different investigation therefore requires different methodsmethods


Wilhelm Windelband & Heinrich RickertWilhelm Windelband & Heinrich Rickert Reject “real” distinction between Reject “real” distinction between

natural and social reality, but accept natural and social reality, but accept “logical” distinction (one posited by the “logical” distinction (one posited by the mind) between the two. This means mind) between the two. This means that when we study one or the other, that when we study one or the other, we have different purposes in mind.we have different purposes in mind.


Windelband & RickertWindelband & Rickert In the case of nature, science is looking In the case of nature, science is looking

for consistencies, regularities, the ‘law,’ for consistencies, regularities, the ‘law,’ that obtains, that obtains, nomosnomos

In the case of human affairs, we are In the case of human affairs, we are concerned with the individual case, concerned with the individual case, idiosidios

Natural science seeks the Natural science seeks the nomotheticnomothetic Social science seeks the Social science seeks the idiographicidiographic


Rickert discusses a Rickert discusses a generalizinggeneralizing method method (in the natural sciences) over and against (in the natural sciences) over and against an an individualizing individualizing method (in the human method (in the human and social sciences)and social sciences)


Back to WeberBack to Weber Rejects Dilthey’s real distinction, accepts Rejects Dilthey’s real distinction, accepts

logical distinction but does not feel that this logical distinction but does not feel that this necessitates use of different methods in necessitates use of different methods in researching the social and natural realms.researching the social and natural realms.

Both social and natural may be concerned Both social and natural may be concerned at any given time with both ideographic at any given time with both ideographic and nomotheticand nomothetic

Scientific method and empiricism should Scientific method and empiricism should suffice for both nomothetic and ideographic suffice for both nomothetic and ideographic inquiryinquiry


While Weber expresses the need to While Weber expresses the need to focus social inquiry on the meanings focus social inquiry on the meanings and values of acting persons and and values of acting persons and therefore on their subjective ‘meaning therefore on their subjective ‘meaning complex of action,’ he defines sociology complex of action,’ he defines sociology as as a science which attempts the a science which attempts the interpretive understanding of social interpretive understanding of social action in order thereby to arrive at a action in order thereby to arrive at a causal explanation of its course and causal explanation of its course and effects.effects.


For Weber, For Weber, verstehenverstehen undergirds the undergirds the purpose behind explanation. But still, in any purpose behind explanation. But still, in any scientific study of society, scientific study of society, verstehenverstehen has to has to be substantiated by empirical evidence.be substantiated by empirical evidence.

Ideal type:Ideal type: conceptual or mental construct conceptual or mental construct involving imagination. Heuristic device, involving imagination. Heuristic device, principal diagnostic tool in amassing principal diagnostic tool in amassing empirical data from the social realm and empirical data from the social realm and subjecting it to empirical verification.subjecting it to empirical verification.


Weber’s ideal type:Weber’s ideal type: The ‘pure case’ with no admixture of fortuitous The ‘pure case’ with no admixture of fortuitous

and confusing features. It guides the social and confusing features. It guides the social inquirer in addressing real-life cases and inquirer in addressing real-life cases and discerning where and to what extent the real discerning where and to what extent the real deviates from the ideal. It reveals, what is deviates from the ideal. It reveals, what is possible and adequate.possible and adequate.

Methodology only applicable to social behavior Methodology only applicable to social behavior that can be described as ‘rational goal-oriented that can be described as ‘rational goal-oriented conduct’ and not to ‘rational value-oriented conduct’ and not to ‘rational value-oriented conduct, ‘affectual conduct’ or ‘traditionalist conduct, ‘affectual conduct’ or ‘traditionalist conduct.’conduct.’


Interpetivism moved out of Interpetivism moved out of empiricism and into hermeneutics, empiricism and into hermeneutics, phenomenology, and symbolic phenomenology, and symbolic interactionism. interactionism.

In this chapter, we discuss symbolic In this chapter, we discuss symbolic interactionism and phenomenology.interactionism and phenomenology.

For and against culture respectively.For and against culture respectively.


Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead Lectures saved by his student Lectures saved by his student

Herbert Blumer who summarized his Herbert Blumer who summarized his ideas on interaction in the following ideas on interaction in the following terms:terms:


Human beings act toward things on the basis of Human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings that these things have for them;the meanings that these things have for them;

The meaning of such things is derived from, and The meaning of such things is derived from, and arises out of, the social interaction that one has arises out of, the social interaction that one has with one’s fellows;with one’s fellows;

These meanings are handled in, and modified These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process used by the through, an interpretive process used by the person in dealing with the things he encounters.person in dealing with the things he encounters.

Keep in mind this is pragmatist philosophy (for Keep in mind this is pragmatist philosophy (for review, read the section on pragmatism in review, read the section on pragmatism in chapter two as well as the following section in chapter two as well as the following section in chapter three)chapter three)


Pragmatism, called the quintessentially Pragmatism, called the quintessentially American philosophyAmerican philosophy

Which works out most effectively provides a Which works out most effectively provides a standard for the determination of truth…standard for the determination of truth…

Pierce, James, DeweyPierce, James, Dewey Experience and culture become Experience and culture become

interchangeableinterchangeable Seeking the meaning of experience Seeking the meaning of experience

becomes an exploration of culturebecomes an exploration of culture


Pragmatism continuedPragmatism continued The view of culture and society that The view of culture and society that

pragmatism came to adopt is pragmatism came to adopt is essentially optimistic and essentially optimistic and progressivist. The pragmatist world is progressivist. The pragmatist world is a world to be explored and made the a world to be explored and made the most of, not a world to be subjected to most of, not a world to be subjected to radical criticismradical criticism

Subject to criticism that it isn’t criticalSubject to criticism that it isn’t critical


Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism ““A person” according to Mead “is a personality A person” according to Mead “is a personality

because he belongs to a community, because he because he belongs to a community, because he takes over the institutions of that community into takes over the institutions of that community into his own conduct”his own conduct”

The whole (society) is prior to the part The whole (society) is prior to the part (individual).(individual).

We owe society our very being as conscious and We owe society our very being as conscious and self-conscious entities, for that being arises from self-conscious entities, for that being arises from a process of symbolic interaction—interaction, by a process of symbolic interaction—interaction, by way of significant gestures (significant symbols)way of significant gestures (significant symbols)


In our emergence into personhood, we must In our emergence into personhood, we must be able to be able to take the role of otherstake the role of others. .

Methodologically, this is critical, because it Methodologically, this is critical, because it means that when we do research from this means that when we do research from this perspective we have to take, to the best of perspective we have to take, to the best of our ability, the standpoint of those studies our ability, the standpoint of those studies and we must discipline our own viewpoint on and we must discipline our own viewpoint on the situation and articulate the viewpoint of the situation and articulate the viewpoint of the actors we are studying clearly and the actors we are studying clearly and accurately.accurately.


EthnographyEthnography From this perspective, reject From this perspective, reject

ethnocentrism, do not criticize the ethnocentrism, do not criticize the culture, observe it as closely as culture, observe it as closely as possible, attempt to take the place of possible, attempt to take the place of those within the culture, search out those within the culture, search out the insider perspectivethe insider perspective


Dramaturgical approachDramaturgical approach Erving Goffman (in rhetoric, Burke, Erving Goffman (in rhetoric, Burke,

performance studies, Turner)performance studies, Turner) Analogy between social life and the Analogy between social life and the

theatretheatre


Game TheoryGame Theory Analyzes social interaction using the Analyzes social interaction using the

everyday concept of the game; rules, everyday concept of the game; rules, players, contextplayers, context

Negotiated order theoryNegotiated order theory Societal arrangements and procedures are Societal arrangements and procedures are

considered to be constantly reworked by considered to be constantly reworked by those who live and work within them. those who live and work within them. Involves negotiation and adjustmentInvolves negotiation and adjustment


Labelling TheoryLabelling Theory The everyday ways in which people categorize The everyday ways in which people categorize

people and things. Interactionism directs us people and things. Interactionism directs us to study the labelling process itself.to study the labelling process itself.

Grounded TheoryGrounded Theory Ensure that the theory emerging arises from Ensure that the theory emerging arises from

the data and not from some other source. the data and not from some other source. Inductive theory building through carefully Inductive theory building through carefully constructed set of qualitative research phases constructed set of qualitative research phases and steps.and steps.


PhenomenologyPhenomenology Back to the things themselvesBack to the things themselves If we lay aside, as best we can, the If we lay aside, as best we can, the

prevailing understandings of those prevailing understandings of those phenomena and revisit our immediate phenomena and revisit our immediate experience of them, possibilities for new experience of them, possibilities for new meaning emerge for us or we witness at meaning emerge for us or we witness at least an authentication and enhancement least an authentication and enhancement of former meaning.of former meaning.


As in Chapter two, there are some As in Chapter two, there are some key assumptions of phenomenologykey assumptions of phenomenology

That there are “things/objects”That there are “things/objects” Intentionality with regard to objects Intentionality with regard to objects

is at the heart of the is at the heart of the phenomenological enterprise.phenomenological enterprise.

Recall distinction b/n Recall distinction b/n constructivism/constructionismconstructivism/constructionism


Phenomenology attempts to invite us Phenomenology attempts to invite us (humans) to become constructivists rather (humans) to become constructivists rather than constructionists.than constructionists.

We must bracket our institutionalized We must bracket our institutionalized frames and let the experience of the frames and let the experience of the phenomena speak to us directly.phenomena speak to us directly.

Refers to Refers to what we directly experiencewhat we directly experience; that ; that is the objects of our experience before we is the objects of our experience before we start thinking about them, interpreting start thinking about them, interpreting them or attributing any meaning to them. them or attributing any meaning to them. These are the These are the things themselves.things themselves.


See p. 80, Phenomenology’s call to See p. 80, Phenomenology’s call to action!action!

Suspend assumptionsSuspend assumptions Be suspicious of cultureBe suspicious of culture Break free!Break free! Open your mind!Open your mind! Culture is liberating, yes, but it is also Culture is liberating, yes, but it is also

limiting.limiting.


In fact, not only is our symbol system In fact, not only is our symbol system limited and limiting, it is also a barrier.limited and limiting, it is also a barrier.

It stands It stands for for things, but it also comes to things, but it also comes to stand stand betweenbetween us and our immediate us and our immediate experience of objects.experience of objects.

Say NO! to the meaning system bequeathed Say NO! to the meaning system bequeathed to us, set it aside. Open ourselves up to to us, set it aside. Open ourselves up to phenomena rather than explore our phenomena rather than explore our everyday meanings as they stand.everyday meanings as they stand.


PhenomenologyPhenomenology First it is objective. It is in search of First it is objective. It is in search of

objects of experience rather than objects of experience rather than being content with a description of being content with a description of the experiencing subject.the experiencing subject.

Second, it is critical. It calls into Second, it is critical. It calls into question what it is we take for question what it is we take for granted.granted.


How does phenomenology work as a research How does phenomenology work as a research method?method?

See p. 83, par. 2See p. 83, par. 2 What is Crotty’s critique of phenomenology as What is Crotty’s critique of phenomenology as

research today here?research today here? The problem with “taking the place of the other” The problem with “taking the place of the other”

in modern phenomenology research is that it is in modern phenomenology research is that it is not phenomenology, each of us must explore our not phenomenology, each of us must explore our own experience, not the experience of others, for own experience, not the experience of others, for no one can take that step back to the things no one can take that step back to the things themselves on our behalf.themselves on our behalf.

Is it possible to “do” phenomenology? How? Is it Is it possible to “do” phenomenology? How? Is it an independent approach? See p. 85an independent approach? See p. 85

The Foundations of Social Research Ch 4

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