Sociology as a Science

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

-study of the structure and behaviour of the physical world
-measuring, watching and experiments

Question 2

Positivists

Answer 2

Durkheim
Sociology is a Science
-objective and social fact
-correlation with relationships
-independent variables
-inductive approach: look at evidence and induce a theory
-verification: theory checked against evidence

Question 3

Sociology can be a science

Answer 3

Poppers view
-deductive approach: deduce theory, what shall you find in evidence if theory is correct/if they want to be scientific
-sociology can be science if it had a precise prediction
-falsification: try to prove it is false and if not its the best theory we have/some sociology concepts cant be falsified meaning not scientific e.g. Marx false class consciousness

Question 4

Sociology is not yet a science

Answer 4

Kuhn
-paradigm
-change happens from time to time, leads to leaps in thinking
-accepted without question
-replaced with new evidence that fits the approach
-rely on several paradigm not just one
-dominates social thinking, new idea then old one is rejected creating marginalisation

Question 5

Sociology should not be a science

Answer 5

Interactionism and Postmodernism
-society not comparable to natural world/micro
-constructed through meaning not objective
-no observing directly
-no solid foundation can base scientific sociology
-humans have agency/choice in how we react/same circumstance different outcome
-meaning and motive cant be ignored

Question 6

Postmodernity

Answer 6

-advance in science, but there are still questions not answered
-science is influenced by society
-scientists are deluded, they believe science can stand apart from social world and states the true account of the world
-natural science under fire for not matching criteria of science
-objective knowledge can be questionable

Question 7

Bloor

Answer 7

-science is shaped by social factors and socially constructed

Question 8

Is science as scientific as it claims to be

Answer 8

Realist view/Sayer
-social science and natural science are similar
-different types of science
-closed system/chemistry, variables controlled, precise predictions/lab
-open system/many variables, unpredictable and not precise
-Open