Science

Question 1

Is sociology a science? - Interpretivists

Answer 1

Agree on what science is but disagree on whether sociology is a science.

MEAD - Animals react to external stimulus on impulse, humans interpret internally. Need to study meanings which cannot be studied through a objective , macro scientific approach.
Meaningless infinity of facts - cannot control all the variables.

WEBER - Versheten, can only understand if view from their point of view, cannot achieve with science.

ATKINSON - social construction of stats - need to study micro labelling.
DOUGLAS - Qualitative research to uncover meanings for individuals, not impose their own like Durkheim.

GARFINKEL - No objective reality to research just internal, shared common sense assumptions.

GLASSER AND STRAUS-
If create hypothesis than have already exerted your meanings, need a grounded theory.

Question 2

Theoretical perspectives on Science and Sociology

Answer 2

Feminists- should not be a science, male dominated and oppress women.

Postmodernists-Society is too fragmented to find a universal law
gender, class etc are all social constructs so rely on interpretation
it is undesirable to copy science - BECK - Risk society.

Question 3

POPPER

Answer 3

Fallacy of induction- verificationism is not key to science, need to aim to falsify not prove ie. swans. SOCIOLOGY NOT A SCIENCE as cannot be falsified by empirical evidence.
BUT
- Sociology is young so may become testable.
-FORD some sociology is falsifiable i.e more mix of class in a comprehensive school - look at facts.

Question 4

KUHN

Answer 4

KUHN

Sociology not a science as no united paradigms.

Question 5

Realism and Science

Answer 5

BHASKAR
Sociology can be a science, science does not have to just study the observable, can study the unobservable by looking at the observable causes
i.e. Observed the earth was round but did not see until the 1960s. Durkeheim studied the unobservable integration and regulation by studying the observable causes.

KEAT AND URRY
Science also studies open systems ie metrology, so society can still be studied scientifically.

Question 6

Is sociology a science? - Positivists

Answer 6

Want objective scientific knowledge to help enlightenment.

COMTE - Science is used to discover laws of relation, the same can be applied for society. Wanst to discover social laws of coexistence and laws of succession.

DURKHEIM - Comte failed to establish sociology as a science. Attempted to do so via suicide study. Showed a highly individual act had a Structural pattern through integration and regulation - causal laws.

Use inductive reasoning and verificationism