postpositív

Postpositivism is a philosophical stance that emerged as a critique and modification of logical positivism. While logical positivists believed that scientific knowledge could be established with absolute certainty through empirical observation and logical verification, postpositivists acknowledge the limitations of human observation and the inherent subjectivity that can influence scientific inquiry. They maintain that while objective reality exists, our understanding and representation of it are always provisional and subject to revision.

Postpositivists do not claim to have direct access to an objective reality but rather to approximate it. They emphasize that scientific theories are not proven true but are rather corroborated or falsified. This means that evidence can support a theory, making it more likely to be true, but it can never definitively prove it. Similarly, a single piece of contradictory evidence can falsify a theory. This approach places a greater emphasis on critical thinking, skepticism, and the ongoing process of scientific discovery.

Key tenets of postpositivism include the belief in an objective reality that can be studied, the importance of empirical evidence, and the recognition of the role of human fallibility in the research process. It encourages researchers to be aware of their own biases and to employ rigorous methods to minimize their influence. Postpositivism has significantly influenced methodologies in various social sciences and is considered a dominant paradigm in many research fields.