Which of the following is true according to positivists in the field of sociology? Anything that is real can be counted and analyzed, including social phenomena. Sociology cannot be studied through the application of scientific principles or the scientific method. Sociological phenomena can only be studied qualitatively, not quantitatively. Human interactions and feelings can only be analyzed in a narrative format.

According to positivists, anything that is real can indeed be counted and analyzed, including social phenomena. They advocate for the use of the scientific method to study society, asserting that social facts can be observed, quantified, and utilized to establish patterns and laws akin to those in the natural sciences. Positivism emerged in the early 19th century, mainly through the works of Auguste Comte, who believed that society evolves through three stages: theological, metaphysical, and scientific. This approach laid the groundwork for sociology as a rigorous discipline, emphasizing the importance of empirical data to understand social dynamics.