1. the general position of U.S. psychology since the mid-20th century, when it ceased to be dominated by logical positivism, hypothetico-deductive methods, and operationalism. Postpositivistic psychology is a broader and more human endeavor, influenced by such philosophers of science as Thomas Kuhn (1922–1996) and by such developments as social constructionism and the Continental tradition of phenomenology and existentialism.

2. more generally, any approach to science and the philosophy of science that has moved away from a position of strict positivism. —postpositivist adj., n. —postpositivistic adj.