Positivism Theory

Definition: According to Ledwith (p.34), positivism is often used as an approach to research that “result[s] in rational, scientific methods of researching human behavior that treat[s] people like objects and den[ies] the less tangible feelings aspect of being human”

Apply: If you used a positivist approach while conducting research within a community, you would being doing research on the people rather than with the people. This approach makes it easy to overlook important aspects of community life because it disregards the ways in which community members are feeling about a particular situation and is instead more interested in how the situation should be dealt with. Without understanding how community members feel, the changes that take place as a result of the research of development plans, will most likely cause more harm than good.

Adapt: I think positivism theory could be adapted to the way in which our society views women in general. Since positivism disregards the relevance of feelings, women in society are often cast aside and seen as unreliable. This is due to the fact that women are associated with having a lot of “feelings” which in a positivist view makes them react irrationally.

Source: Ledwith, M., & Campling, J. (2005). Community development: A critical approach. Bristol, UK: Policy Press.