Sociology as a science Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is the positivist view of sociology as a science?
Positivists believe sociology can be a science by using objective methods, like experiments and statistics.
What methods do positivists prefer?
Quantitative methods such as surveys and official statistics, aiming for objectivity and generalisability.
What is the interpretivist view on sociology and science?
Interpretivists argue sociology can’t be a science because humans have free will and meanings can’t be measured objectively.
What methods do interpretivists prefer?
Qualitative methods like interviews and observations to understand social meanings and experiences.
What is Popper’s view on science?
A science must be falsifiable — theories must be testable and capable of being proven wrong.
Can sociology be falsified according to Popper?
Some sociological theories can be tested, but many are too broad or abstract to be truly falsifiable.
What is Kuhn’s idea of paradigms?
Science operates within paradigms — dominant frameworks of thought. Sociology lacks a single paradigm, so it’s not yet a true science.
What is realism (in the sociology/science debate)?
Realists argue that both natural sciences and sociology study underlying structures we can’t always observe directly.
What did Keat and Urry say about sociology as a science?
They claimed sociology can be scientific by investigating unobservable structures (like class), similar to sciences like physics.
Why do postmodernists reject sociology as a science?
They argue there’s no single truth or method — science is just one way of understanding the world, not superior to others.
