Positivist Learning and Its Implications to Language Teaching

An Opinion

By Donny.A.Ginting
A. Positivist Learning
Positivism is one of philosopical system that emphasizes the logical thinking in order
to test the truth by giving the proof as a major assesment. Ajay states “Positivism: a
philosophical system recognizing only that which can be scientifically verified or which is
capable of logical or mathematical proof, and therefore rejecting metaphysics and theism.
In addition, Deborah states “ Positivism refers to a philosophy of science which
asserts that “objective accounts of the real world can be given . The nature of the inquiry is
anchored in the scientific method of establishing a hypothesis, and testing it against collected
data. Positivism adopts a realist ontology, an objectivist epistemology, and an experimental
methodology . Meanwhile, Neuman states “ The premise of a realist ontology is that the truth
is waiting to be discovered, and that social and physical reality is real. An objective
epistemology denotes the philosophy’s framework of seeking rigorous, exact measures, and
objective research through the limitation of researcher bias. The positivistic methodology is
primarily quantitative in nature and often uses experiments, surveys, and statistics to test
hypotheses through empirical analysis” .

B. Positivist Learning and Languange Teaching

The positivism, especially logical positivism can be used to prevent the author gives
conclusion based on the perception or subjectivity without using scientific inquiry, empirical
method and logical hyphoteses. In addition, Andang states “the positivism believed that
knowledge and facts which existed in the real world can be discovered by the experiment in
which it has a certain conditions and where hypotheses are tested”.
The usage of logical positivism is needed in languange teaching. Why is logical
positivism important in languange teaching? . This approach is useful as a guide to the
teacher to prevent draw conclusion based on temporary statement and perception without
using scientific inquiry or empirical method.
In 2016, Ajay Pratap Singh stated if the logical positivism gives implication to
languange teaching. Ajay stated “logical positivism will be developing an ability to make a
language analysis so that meaningful and sensible conclusions may be drawn. Logical
Positivism emphasized on verification of language used in educational processes. They assert
that language used by educational researcher and practitioner is not always adequate and it
tends to distort and twist the gist of subject”.

Based on the above explanation, the conclusion is logical positivism gives a guide for
teacher in order to measure the languange teaching process based on scientific inquiry,
empirical method and logical hyphoteses. In addition, the teacher can analyze the data which
is taken during learning by using statistical measurement.

References :

Deborah, Weston.( 2014). A Positive Constructivist: An Internal Debate on Opposing

Educational Philosophies. Journal of Teaching and Learning Vol.3. Peel District : Brock
University

Ajay, P.S. ( 2016). ROLE OF LOGICAL POSITIVISM IN EDUCATIONAL

UNDERSTANDING . Sai Om Journal of Arts & Education Volume 3, Issue 9.
Lucknow : Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University India

Neuman, W. L. (2000). Social research methods (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon

Suhendi, Andang.(2019). Teaching Method. Medan: Islamic University of North Sumatera