You've beautifully listed key features of Positivist Sociology using the acronym OSOX—Observable, Single, Objective, External reality. Now, let's draw a comprehensive contrast by listing the features of Non-Positivist approaches (also known as Interpretivist, Anti-Positivist, or Constructivist paradigms).
| Feature | Positivist Approach (Durkheim, Comte) | Non-Positivist Approach (Weber, Schutz, Goffman) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Reality | Objective, Single, Observable, External (OSOX) | Multiple, Subjective, Constructed, Internal |
| Reality is | Out there, to be discovered | Created through social interaction and meanings |
| Focus | Observable behaviour; external patterns | Meanings, motives, and interpretations |
| Role of Meanings | Not important (unobservable) | Central to understanding social action |
| View of Society | Independent of individuals; structure-centric | Depends on human interpretations and agency |
| Nature of Knowledge | General, law-like, universal | Contextual, particularistic, grounded |
| Methodology | Deductive, scientific method, statistical | Inductive, ethnography, narratives, case studies |
| Methods Used | Quantitative: Surveys, statistics, experiments | Qualitative: Interviews, observations, diaries |
| Goal | To explain and predict; establish cause-effect laws | To understand and interpret subjective experiences |
| Objectivity | Emphasis on value-neutrality | Rejects value neutrality, accepts researcher's bias |
| Testing Knowledge | Empirically verifiable and falsifiable | Valid through thick description and reflexivity |
| Theory Orientation | Deterministic and Predictive | Interpretive and Context-bound |
| Researcher’s Role | Detached observer | Immersed participant (reflexive and situated) |
| View on Common Sense | Rejects it as unscientific | Starts from it; everyday knowledge is important |
| Example Thinkers | Durkheim, Comte | Weber, Schutz, Garfinkel, Goffman |