“Positivist researchers adopt a quantitative methodology and carry out surveys and questionnaires. Interpretivist researchers adopt a qualitative methodology and carry out interviews and ethnographies. Drawing on examples of research skills, explain why?”

In this essay I will look closely at the strengths and limitations of both positivist and interpretevist methodologies in my attempt to explain why the different researchers work in the way they do. Positivism was traditionally known as the scientific approach. The basis behind the scientific approach is the assumption of validity in collected empirical data. Positivist researchers then use this collected data to formulate laws to account for the happenings in the world around them. The Scientific theory incorporates methods and principles from natural science to help with the study of human behaviour….(short extract)