Sociology as science

Question 1

what are the 5 components for subject to be considered a science?

Answer 1

1. empirical: info can be counted
2. testable: can be examined many times
3. theoretical: uncovers casual relationships between phenomena
4. cumulative: build on prev knowledge
5. objective: science builds out personal prejudice

Question 2

how is sociology a science (yes)?

Answer 2

• yes if follows scientific methods used by Popper + Durkheim
• deductive approach- begin with theory + uses data to test. Popper
• inductive approach- should come from ev from gathering data-Durkheim
• falsification must be possible

Question 3

inductive vs deductive

Answer 3

inductive= sociologists:
- gather data then create theory
- durkheim sucide- integration and social control= subjective

deductive= popper (scientific approach)
- begin with ideas and test them
- falsification

both scientific but deductive is more scientific as inductive cant be tested

Question 4

how is sociology not a science (no)?

Answer 4

• Weber- should study society from perspective of others (vertshen) requiring subjectivity- doesnt make scientific
• interpretivists would say cant study it like natural science bc its people

Question 5

interpretivists views on sociology as a science?

Answer 5

• gaining versthen is subjective- gives unique advantage over natural science as we can empathise with what studying and gain deeper understanding
• plants/animals have no conscious, we have conscious, therefore we cant study them

Question 6

how is sociology a science sometimes (it depends)?

Answer 6

Thomas Kuhn
science went through paradigm shifts
1. pre-science
2. normal science
3. revolutionary science
sociology in pre-science stage as no dominant perspective. needs to find unifying theory
- realism- most science sterotypically seen as physics

Question 7

is science scientific?

Answer 7

• rorty- scientists have replaced priests
• lyotard- science lang has developed so hard for av person to understand + question- limits us from looking at things in a different way. no open mind=unscientific

Question 8

should sociology want to be seen as a science?

Answer 8

can cause harm by being used to damage humanity for the benefit of the few eg medical, military, political harm-> why would want to be associated in research.