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Broken Images: Positivist and Post-Positivist
Epistemologies in Belfast’s Visual Landscape
LISA CLAIRE WHITTEN1
The following article discusses two contrasting theories of knowledge –
positivism and post-positivism – and their impact on research design. In
outlining the central tenets of the diverging epistemologies, the work of
Auguste Comte as an example of positivism, and the work of Michel
Foucault and Thomas Kuhn as examples of post-positivism are given
particular attention; the purpose of this is to place the political
philosophies of Comte and Foucault – not ordinarily considered together
– into dialogue. Using Comte and Foucault’s work as a basis, the
respective value of positivism and post-positivism will be further
considered through two hypothetical research designs into the same
phenomenon the political murals and peace walls in Belfast.
He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.
He becomes dull, trusting to clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images.
Robert Graves, In Broken Images (in McGarry and O’Leary 1995: i).
Introduction
The aim of this article is to enable a dialogue between positivist and post-positivist
research frameworks using the case study of the visual landscape of Belfast. Such an
approach allows the discussion to explore in detail the effect of different
epistemologies on an area of important research: the relationship of individuals to
1
Lisa Claire currently works as a Policy Assistant in the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in
Brussels. She is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast’s MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict, for
which an earlier version of this article was originally written. Lisa previously studied for a BA
Honours in Politics at Newcastle University.