According to Interpretivists, how are official statistics viewed?

Interpretivists view official statistics as social constructions, which means they believe that these statistics are created through social processes and reflect the perspectives and interests of those who produce them. From an interpretivist standpoint, data such as official statistics are not mere reflections of objective reality; instead, they are shaped by various social factors, including governmental influences, cultural contexts, and the biases of the individuals or institutions that gather and present this data.

This perspective emphasizes that statistics can be manipulated or presented in ways that may misrepresent actual social conditions, as they often reflect the priorities of those in power rather than an unbiased account of society. The process by which data is collected and standardized can introduce interpretive elements that can skew the information presented. Therefore, interpretivists argue that understanding the context behind statistics is essential to grasp their true meaning and limitations.

In contrast, official statistics are not typically seen as unbiased reflections of reality or merely quantitative data, as these views do not acknowledge the interpretative and subjective nature of data collection and presentation. Additionally, while some methods may collect personal experiences, this does not align with the broadly constructed nature of official statistics, which are often aggregates of data rather than direct personal narratives.