Methods Favoured by Postmodernists

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Methods Favoured by Postmodernists

• www.educationforum.co.uk

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Postmodernism

• No single methodology favoured by all
  postmodernists
• However all REJECT the positivist notion that the
  truth is obtainable through either inductive or
  deductive positivism

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Epistemological Postmodernism

• EG Lyotard even reject the idea that some
  theories can be falsified (central idea of
  Poppers deductive positivism).
• Lyotard claims that what appears to be or what is
  claimed to be objective knowledge is just
  evidence of a master or meta narrative (dominant
  story)
• All knowledge is seen by Lyotard as story telling
  and all stories or narratives are of equal value

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Implications for Methods

• Epistemological pomos like Lyotard favour methods
  that allow respondents to tell their stories
  thus qualitative methodologies or ETHNOGRAPHICAL
  research observations etc.
• Epistemological pomos however make NO attempt to
  evaluate narratives because all narratives are
  equal
• Such an approach can therefore be criticised for
  its relativism

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Can postmodernism improve existing methodology?

• Less extreme e.g.s of postmodernism like Alvesson
  (2002) suggest a pomo approach can improve
  existing sociological methodology and therefore
  improve research
• Alvesson emphasises the central importance of
  language suggesting that a researchers notes may
  not always be a reflexion of a social reality
• This draws on Foucaults idea of discourses
  groups of people like sociologists or other
  social actors develop ways of talking
  (discourses) about topics and issues which give
  them power for instance teachers might talk
  about learning or pupils in a way that enhances
  the importance of teachers
• Alvesson claims that an understanding of
  discourses can both improve traditional methods
  and research outcomes

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Reading

• Haralambos pages 811-814
• White A2 textbooks pages 296-300