• Login
• Admin

Major, James (2014) Representations and misrepresentations of positivism within TESOL literature as analysed by a postpositivist. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]

PDF - Registered users only - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Download (363kB)

Abstract

Abstract

Within the field of SLA and TESOL the philosophical position of positivism has become

unpopular and is often heavily criticised, especially by those espousing alternative

epistemological perspectives. However what exactly is being attacked is not always

clear as positivism is used to represent a number of distinct philosophies which are

not always clearly distinguished. Many of the older types of positivism now have few

supporters, but the newest variety postpositivism has still has active support,

especially amongst natural scientists. Some critics within TESOL though still seemingly

base their arguments against the older, 'dead' versions.

This paper will investigate the way the positivism is presented in three recent works:

Thornbury's (2012) F is for Facts, Johnson's (2009) Second Language Teacher

Education: A Sociocultural Perspective and Kumaravadivalu's (2006) Understanding

Language Teaching: From Method to Postmethod. Firstly the way in which each

presents the topic of positivism will be scrutinized, then the key ideas presented will

be analysed from a postpositivist perspective. Some concluding remarks will be made

regarding the ways in which positivism can be better presented in such works,

especially to those unfamiliar with the arguments.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Depositing User:	Gigg, Diane
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2015 09:33
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2017 14:12
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/28085

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View