How do symbolic interactionists criticise positivism?
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The symbolic interaction is conceived from an interpretive paradigm therefore in my view is incompatible with a positivist perspective. The epistemology of positivism assumes that reality is objective and our approach to it must achieve maximum fitness through the most accurate instruments what makes the maths a prime mediator of social analysis. Conversely interactionism assumes that reality is socially constructed by social interaction mediated by the symbolic language so any approach to reality should be assuming such interaction with linguistic and symbolic mediations. They are two radically different perspectives and I cannot think how they could be reconciled consistently. In a particular research process the risk is trying to reconcile these two underlying espistemologies in a pragmatic way but indeed leaving great inconsistencies in the way.