postpositivism

Postpositivism is a philosophical stance in the philosophy of science and in social science that emerged as a critique of classical positivism while preserving an emphasis on empirical investigation. It holds that empirical evidence is essential but that knowledge is tentative, incomplete, and subject to revision. As such, scientific theories cannot be proven with absolute certainty; they are tested and potentially falsified, and what counts as evidence depends on the theories and models used to interpret observations.

Key ideas include fallibilism—the possibility that all knowledge may be incorrect; theory-laden observation—the idea that what we observe is influenced by prior theories; and value sensitivity—researchers' aims and values shape questions and interpretations. Postpositivism supports methodological pluralism and triangulation, using multiple methods and sources of evidence to strengthen inferences. It stresses that scientific claims should be probabilistic rather than definitive and that explanations should be judged by their empirical adequacy and coherence with established knowledge.

Origins and scope: Postpositivism developed in the 20th century as a reformulation of positivism, drawing on Popper's falsifiability, Kuhn's ideas about paradigms, and later critical realism. In many social sciences, postpositivism accommodates both quantitative and qualitative methods and invites researchers to acknowledge uncertainty and bias while pursuing rigorous inquiry.

Methodological implications: researchers are urged to articulate assumptions, use transparent procedures, report limitations, and engage in reflexivity. Reliability and validity are reframed as inquiry quality indicators (e.g., construct validity, confirmability, credibility) rather than absolute proofs.

Criticism and reception: critics argue that postpositivism can be vague or inconsistent in guiding practice and that distinctions between postpositivist and other nonpositivist approaches can blur. Nevertheless, it remains influential in fields such as education research, psychology, nursing, and the social sciences, where tempered, evidence-based conclusions are valued.