Sociology And Science

Question 1

Positivists

Answer 1

• argue we need to establish value free, objective knowledge uncovering laws of cause and effect
• scientist’s values and opinions should not make a difference, as society is a factual reality- real thing made of social facts
• use induction- accumulation of data through careful observation/ measurement so we apply verificationism

Question 2

Interpreivists

Answer 2

• sociology can’t be a science because its subject matter is humans rather than objects, humans have consciousness so cannot be generalised accurately- instead they simply interact with one another rather than objective laws governing society

Question 3

Postmodernists

Answer 3

• idea that sociology can be a science is out of date, because a scientific approach implies a truth
• postmodernists reject ideas of a single truth (meta narrative) and fear of monopoly- arguing there are many truths discourses preferential to modern society

Question 4

Popper (falsification)

Answer 4

• argues science should use a process of falsification- trying to prove theory wrong
• by proving a theory wrong, it shows the theory has been vigorously tested - sociology would do well to adopt this approach as what it consists of has not been easily testable or capable of standing up to falsification analysis

Question 5

Kuhn (paradigms)

Answer 5

• argue normal science operates within a paradigm (accepted framework of concepts and procedures)- unlike perspective within sociology where there is competition between various theories the scientific is rarely questioned
• sociology doesn’t have a shared paradigm and therefore cannot be scientific

Question 6

Keat and Urry (realism)

Answer 6

• stresses similarities between sociology and certain types of natural science- distinguish between open and closed systems
• closed; variables are controlled and precise measurements can be taken- typical lab experiments of physics, chemistry and biology
• open; variables aren’t controlled- seismologist, volcanologists
• using open system approach, sociology can be a science as it seeks to uncover underlying structures and processes

Question 7

Criticisms of Kuhn

Answer 7

• Feyerbend; sees scienccce as anarchic, and that paradigms prevent new ideas coming to the fore