Positivism and ontology - how do positivists see the social world?

Positivist ontology asserts that reality exists independently of our perceptions and is governed by observable, measurable phenomena.
It sees a deterministic universe, where causality and regularity reign supreme.
Reality is seen as objective and structured, following natural laws akin to those of the physical sciences.
Positivists emphasise empirical evidence and quantitative methods to understand and explain phenomena, aiming for precision and predictability.
Human behaviour and social phenomena are viewed as measurable and predictable, subject to the same laws as natural phenomena.
Positivist ontology underpins a scientific approach to understanding the social world, prioritising objectivity, measurement, and causality.