DEBATE 1: Is sociology a science? Flashcards
Why was a scientific status desirable?
1) more funding, prestige, status
2) attracts future generations
3) popular choices at degree and A-level
4) early sociologist went out of their way to claim it was scientific for these reasons
What 5 things does science need to be?
1- Empirical
2- Theoretical
3- Objective
4- Cumulative
5- Testable
What does empirical mean?
Information can be counted or measured
What does theoretical mean?
Science seeks out causal relationships which relies on phenomena being predictable
What does objective mean?
No room for personal bias, preferences it is value free
What does cumulative mean?
Knowledge builds on old knowledge- linear progression
What does testable mean?
Knowledge is open to verification as it is an open system
1) Empirical
- Durkheim, social facts
- external, independent, real things that exist in social world can be observed and measured
- Marx, capitalist structure exists independently of individuals
X tries to measure invisible phenomena, SC, religion, faith
2) Theoretical
- Durkheim, groups are predictable
- suicide, levels of integration of certain groups
- predict WC educational failure n poverty
X societies and individuals are unpredictable
X no causal predictive relationship can be found
3) Objective
- Durkheim, The Hypothetico-Deductive method
- The comparative method followed strictly
X subjective, value bias
4) Cumulative
YES- builds on other sociological theories
5) Testable
Durk, Marx
- once theory is put together it is open to verification
- tested, re-tested, accounts for differences between Func n Marx
X ‘social’ is value laden, always biased and full of values =
X cannot be tested in a scientific way
Popper
What is the inductive method?
Start with the evidence which allows you to induce theories that can be verified with more evidence.
Popper
What is the deductive method?
Starts with a theory or hypothesis which is then tested with research to see if it can be disproved (falsified). As long as it cannot be falsified it is a scientific truth but it may be disproved in the future.
What is the difference between induce and deduce?
Induce- bring about or give rise to
Deduce- trace the course of
How does Popper criticise Marxism?
Fails to specify what has to happen before the proletariat revolution occurs, when the revolution does not happen they push it coming further to the future, preventing the possibility of falsification.
Why does Popper believe that Sociology could be scientific?
He believes they can be applied to social sciences- scientific methodology
Theories of human behaviour open to the possibility of falsification can be developed.
- if it follows rigorous scientific methods
How can we challenge Popper’s ideas?
Human societies are open systems which means it is impossible to control variables. Because of this it is difficult for theories to be falsified.
Why do Interpretivists say that sociology is not a science?
- ‘real world’ is socially constructed
- important to understand the different meaning people attach
- human behaviour is unpredictable
Why does Weber say that sociology is not a science?
Verstehen
- requires subjective understanding
- study society from the perspective of other people
Is science even scientific?
PM
RORTY- scientists have replaced priests as sources of truth
‘truths’ change
LYOTARD- scientific language limits us from looking at things in different ways
Why would sociology want to be a science?
1- Military harm
nuclear weapons
2- Medical harm
thalidomide babies
3- Political harm
global warming, propaganda
Why would sociology want to be a science?
BILLIG
‘sociology limits itself by trying to be scientific’
if knowledge is to develop and grow we should embrace many different knowledge paradigms
- science with sociology
Why would sociology want to be a science?
WRIGHT MILLS
‘The sociological Imagination’
- creative and open minded towards research
- don’t limit yourself to only one source of knowledge
Why would sociology want to be a science?
BAUMAN
‘Liquid Modernity’
- old restrictive structures of the past have broken down, knowledge has become free
- no longer tied down to science
Why would sociology want to be a science?
BECK
Science has created a ‘risk society’
- introduced global warming, nuclear weapons, other greed
- why would sociology want to be associated with this?
- manufactured risks
It depends what kind of science it is?
Thomas Kuhn
1- prescience- sociology is at now
. period of discovery where there was no central paradigm
2- normal science
. where scientists use and established paradigm to support theories, evolution
3- revolutionary science
. where the paradigms are challenged
What are paradigms?
An accepted framework of theory, concepts, methodologies
What are paradigm shifts?
When one (old) way of thinking is shoved away by a newer way of thinking
What is the case of Dr. Velikovsky?
He proposed an alternative theory n the origins of the earth
- work was boycotted
- ridiculed by scientific community
- reputation lest in tatters
- challenged paradigm and faced resistance
Why does Kuhn say sociology is in the pre-science stage?
There is no dominant perspective, there are lots of competing theories and perspectives
What do other theories say?
REALISM
most ‘science is stereotypically seen as subjects such as chemistry or physics but not all science is like this
Closed system- only have a limited number of variables therefore it is easily tested
SAYER
Open system- difficult to test, recognise unpredictability, weather is not accurate prediction based on things that cannot be observed
What do other theories say?
POSTMODERNISM
BAUMAN N BAUDRILLARD
- science is simply a metanarrative
- simply a big story and as such it is no more valid than other belief systems
What do other theories say?
FEMINISM
HARDING N HART
- science is inadequate as it is ‘malestream’ and as such holds little value to women
