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AQA A Level Sociology > Methodology - Influence Of Science > Flashcards

Methodology - Influence Of Science Flashcards

1
Q

When did sociology emerge and what was the time like?

A

In the second half of the 19th century - a time where sciences were making real strides in knowledge and considered objective.

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2
Q

What is Methodology?

A

It refers to both the research methods through which info is collected and the general philosophies upon which the collection and analysis of data is based.

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3
Q

Sociologists were influenced by: (2)

A
  • changes in patterns of life

- advances w science & tech

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4
Q

What is the major methodological disagreement in sociology?

A

Whether sociology should use same methods employed by science - should we class socio as a science?

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5
Q

What does a theory do?

A

Tired to explain something - it should be capable of being tested.

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6
Q

What was the Enlightenment project?

A

A philosophical movement which aimed to bring new ways of understanding things.

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7
Q

2 key features of the Enlightenment Project:

A
  • power of human reason, esp science, would enable us to undertand the world by giving us knowledge.
  • human progress - natural science would cure disease which social science would solve social issues.
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8
Q

Modernist theories are…

A

Theories that could be used to improve society.

E.g. functionalism, Marxism, feminism etc

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9
Q

What is Deductive Methodology?

A

It’s a deductive approach which starts with a theory and tests it against evidence.

We should start with a hypothesis and then rigorously test it.

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10
Q

Who supported the Deductive Methodology?

A

Popper

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11
Q

How do positivist see sociology?

A
  • science based on objective observation.
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12
Q

What approach do Positivists use?

A

Inductive Approach - collect date and then analyses it and then theories are developed. It can then be tested again to confirm it.

If it is confirmed , COMTE and positivists say they have discovered a law of human behaviour.

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13
Q

A scientific theory is…

A

One that can be tested. The theory may be provisionally accepted if it is found to be correct but there is always the possibility that it will be proved falsified in the future.

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14
Q

What does Popper claim?

A

That you cannot ever be sure that you have found the truth. Theories are always capable of falsification.

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15
Q

Why would critiques have implications for sociologists wanting to claim scientific status?

A

It would make them less inclined to follow scientific methods.

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16
Q

What do sociologists like KAPLAN say about the objectivity of science? (2)

A

He claims that some scientists look for evidence to confirm theories, ignoring evidence that might falsify them.

Also accidents and mistakes contribute to the creation of scientific knowledge so it cannot always be understood as objective knowledge.

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17
Q

What do sociologists like GOMM say about sociology and science?

A

Science is influenced by social factors so scientists are being shaped by the context that they are working in societies cannot be classed as detached

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18
Q

What does KUHN say about sociology and science?

A

He claims that scientific community is develop a commitment to a particular paradigm so he rejects that there exists standardised procedure.

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19
Q

What is a Paradigm?

A

A group of people who have a set of shared beliefs about some aspects - this dictates how to study it and how to interpret evidence.

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20
Q

Difference between KUHN and POPPER’s view of the scientific community:

A

Popper thinks people should aim to falsify things while Kuhn doesn’t believe there is just one way of looking and things.

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21
Q

Primary vs Secondary Data?

A

Primary - data that was not present before the research began and needs to be produced by the researcher.

Secondary - data which already exists e.g. from governmental reports.

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22
Q

Quantitative vs Qualitative Data?

A

Quantitative - numerical form data which can be useful for measuring data.

Qualitative - data that is not descriptive e.g. written sources.

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23
Q

What are the 3 factors sociologists look into?

A

P E T

practical
ethical
theoretical

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24
Q

What does objective mean?

A

Factual data that cannot be argued against.

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25
Q

What do you positivists think about reality?

A

But it is patterned and we can observe empirical patterns or regularities. Therefore it is the job of science to observe identify measure and record these patterns systematically.

26
Q

What kind of analysis to positivist prefer?

A

A macro level of analysis where they use quantity of data to uncover large patterns of behaviour. They believe that we should be detached and objective when researching.

27
Q

Give two criticisms of positivism:

A

1) Human actions depends on individual meanings and everyone is different so people cannot just be grouped.
2) sociologists can really produce the kind of controlled conditions for study such as the scientist lab.

28
Q

What do interpretivist believe?

A

They argue that sociology should not be classed as a science because sociology is about internal meanings and it is the job of the sociologist to uncover these meetings rather than simply identifying patterns.

29
Q

Interpretivists believe we should use “Verstehen” , what is that?

A

This is when the researcher puts him self in the place of the social actor. This emphasises the usefulness of qualitative research methods.

30
Q

How would interactionists investigate something like suicides?

A

Douglas criticises Durkheim’s reliance on quantitive data from official statistics to study suicide and then said he believes the use of qualitative data should be used instead as suicide is something very personal.

31
Q

How would positivists like Durkheim study suicide?

A

They would say that even a highly individual act has social causes so they can use qualitative data to find patterns e.g. that suicide rates for Protestants were higher than for Catholics.

32
Q

What do Realists believe?

A

That although there are basic differences between the social and the natural world, it is both possible and desirable for sociology to be scientific.

33
Q

Give an example of a realist sociologist

A

BHASKAR and SAYER

34
Q

What does Sayer say?

A

He rejects poppers view that scientific theory must make precise predictions he does believe that sociology is scientific with society is a complex open system so it is impossible to make precise predictions

35
Q

What does Weber argue?

A

That absolute value Neutrality is impossible because values were bound to influence what topic sociologist things are relevant and important enough to study therefore sociology should not be classed as a science.

36
Q

What did Oakley do a study on?

A

Looking at the speed experience of becoming a mother in modern British society. She did not maintain detachment and she was driven by her own personal bad experience of being a mother.

37
Q

What does Gouldner argue, in support of Weber (the interactionist) ?

A

He argues that all research is inevitably Influenced by values e.g. Marxists focus on capitalism, feminism focuses on the patriarchy.

38
Q

Who fun sociological research and how does this affect the sociological research?

A

The funding body so this means that they can control the direction to the research - they are the paymasters.

39
Q

Who are the paymasters?

A

They are the funders of a sociological research and have the same values as a sociologist.

40
Q

What is a Commited Sociology?

A

This is where the sociologist spells out the importance of their personal values to their research. They believe it is vital for sociologists to be open about their opinion and things they find important.

Becker - “who’s side are we on?”

41
Q

What does Becker argue about taking sides?

A

That instead of seeing things from the perspective of the other dogs so sociologists should take a compassionate stands and take the side of the underdogs

42
Q

How does Gouldner criticise Becker for his view on taking sides?

A

He criticises him for taking a sentimental approach and he argues for a Marxist approach and believes people should take the side of those who are fighting back.

43
Q

What do post-modernists take?

A

They take a realist view of knowledge and reject the idea that anyone account of the social world is superior to another and see perspective is that claim to have the truth as a meta narrative.

44
Q

Giddens identified ways in which sociology relates to social policy: (2)

A
  • policy makers might use sociology to justify policies.

- sociology can inform policy makers of issues that need to be tackled.

45
Q

How has sociology influenced social policy?

A
  • feminist campaigns have led to changes in education and have led to offences such as domestic violence being taken more seriously by the police.
46
Q

However, sometimes sociology is not able to impact sociology : (2)

A
  • depends on the government, new right are more hostile to sociologists and won’t be keen on implementing their needs.
  • they may be sympathetic but not have sufficient funds.
47
Q

How did Marshall define social policy?

A

As the actions of government that have a direct impact on the welfare of citizens by providing them with services.

48
Q

What are social problems?

A

Warsley defines social problems as any social behaviour that causes public friction and/or private misery.

49
Q

What do Positivists and Functionalists believe the role of sociology is?

A

To improve society by discovering both the cause of social problems and scientifically based solutions to them, they believe that the role of the sociologist is to provide the state with objective scientific information that I can use the basic policies on.

50
Q

What is the Social Democratic Perspective view on the role of sociology?

A

They have a more radical approach in order to eradicate social problems in society. They believe in a redistribution of wealth and income to eradicate other problems in society.

Researchers such as Townsend argue that sociologists should research social problems and make policy recommendations to eliminate them completely.

51
Q

What do Marxists believe about the role of sociology?

A

The sociologists main role should be to criticise capitalist social policy which must exploitation. They also argue the research that reveals unpleasant truth about the social problems created by capitalism will not be used to formulate policies as a government pick and choose what they want to use.

52
Q

What do Marxists think social policy does?

A

They believe the policies serve the interest rather than site as a whole and it simply masks the exploitation.

53
Q

What do feminists believe about the role of sociology?

A

They believe that the state perpetrates women subordination do with social policies and they believe that more far-reaching changes are required that the state cannot deliver.

54
Q

What do the new right believe is the role of sociology?

A

They believe that the state should only have minimal involvement in society because they don’t wanna create a nanny state.

55
Q

What is determinism?

A

This refers to behaviour that is determined by external forces where individuals have very little element of personal choice.

56
Q

What is free will?

A

The view that individuals can exercise considerable choice.

57
Q

What are structuralists?

A

Those who emphasise the power of society of individuals.

58
Q

What are social action theorists?

A

Go to emphasise the ability of individuals to shape our behaviour.

59
Q

What does top-down mean?

A

That society construct individuals.

60
Q

What does bottom up mean?

A

That individuals construct our own society.

AQA A Level Sociology (21 decks)

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