Final answer:
Non-positivist theories focus on subjectivity and reject purely objective analysis, favoring philosophical approaches over empirical, fact-based positivist claims. They utilize qualitative rather than quantitative methods to deeply understand social phenomena and are not mainly concerned with the study of power and discourse.
Step-by-step explanation:
Constitutive non-positivist theories are generally grounded in philosophical approaches that challenge positivist claims. Unlike positivist theories which are empirical and fact-based, non-positivist theories, such as antipositivism, suggest that social researchers should aim for subjectivity to effectively represent social processes, cultural norms, and societal values. This marks a significant difference between quantitative sociology, which relies on statistical methods, and qualitative sociology, which employs in-depth interviews and content analysis to understand human behavior.
Furthermore, non-positivist theories often incorporate conflict theory, arguing that society is a competition for limited resources, and constructivism, which posits that reality is a cognitive construct by humans.
Methodologies like dramaturgical analysis are indicative of these theories, viewing society as a theatrical performance. Consequently, non-positivist perspectives are not heavily focused on the study of power and discourse, but rather on understanding the social world in a more subjective and in-depth manner, rejecting the notion of purely objective analysis.