Methods Favoured by Postmodernists www.educationforum.co.uk

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

Epistemological Postmodernism EG Lyotard even reject the idea that some theories can be falsified (central idea of Popper’s 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

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

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 Foucault’s 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

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