Pomo Methods - the Education Forum
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Transcript Pomo Methods - the Education Forum
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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
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