Positivism and Suicide

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  • Created by: Megan
  • Created on: 15-09-14 10:47
What was Durkheims study called? What did he aim to show?
'Le Suicide' (1897). Set out to show that an apparently personal act can be a product of EXTERNAL FORCES i.e that suicide is a SOCIAL FACT
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What method did Durkheim use? What does this mean?
Comparative Method- comparing quantitative/statistical data to uncover a pattern
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What did Durkheim do?
Compared suicide statistics from different countries in order to find correlations and patterns between them. He hoped to uncover a cause and effect formula for suicide
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Durkheim found that although the individuals in society change over time, some factors remain constant, What are they?
1) In society the suicide rate was fairly constant and stable over time 2) There were significant differences in suicide rates between societies.
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Because of those factors, what did Dukheim argue?
That the consistent patterns mean suicide can not be explained as an individual, personal act. There must be forces in society that cause suicide.
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How does Halbwachs criticise Durkheim?
He focuses far too much on how religion is linked with suicide and not enough on factors such as ecology (Where you live, community links)
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How does Halbwachs criticise Durkheim?
Althugh Durkheim claims that suicide is influenced only by external social factors, he is suggesting that individuals know and understand the importance of regulation and intergration. - This is borderline interactionism.
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Evaluation of Durkheims study
He relied too heavily on official statistics which can be easily manipulated and it could be argued that they are socially constructed. However, It can be used to show the link between sociology and science
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Card 2

Front

What method did Durkheim use? What does this mean?

Back

Comparative Method- comparing quantitative/statistical data to uncover a pattern

Card 3

Front

What did Durkheim do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Durkheim found that although the individuals in society change over time, some factors remain constant, What are they?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Because of those factors, what did Dukheim argue?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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