Is soc a science?

Question 1

What type of sociologists believe sociology is a science?

Answer 1

Positivists- Functionalists and Marxists

Question 2

What sociologists talks about sociology as a science?

Answer 2

Comte

Question 3

What does Comte say?

Answer 3

-Sociologists should use experimental methods ( lab experiments ) that are used in natural sciences to test hypothesis in a systematic and controlled way.

-Seek to establish cause and effect relationships between variables.

Question 4

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 4

• Accumulating data and patterns in research to prove your hypothesis right, and reasons WHY

Question 5

What is Verificationism?

Answer 5

• Verifying the hypothesis when there is enough data to prove it.

Question 6

What does Lukes say verificationism proves and what is an example of it?

Answer 6

• A social fact
• An example of a social fact is in Durkhiems study of suicide that moral regulation can impact social integration.

Question 7

Do interpretivists believe sociology can be a science?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Why is sociology not a science according to interpretivists?

Answer 8

• Science studies things that are unconscious, however human beings are conscious, and we attach meanings to things as well as have feelings and emotions which means humans are too complex to be studied scientifically.

Question 9

What do interpretivists believe we must seek out?

Answer 9

Verstehen- putting yourself in someones shoes.

Question 10

What type of methods of research do interpretivists believe we should use?

Answer 10

• Subjective research methods such as observations and unstructured interviews.

Question 11

What do Feminists believe in regards to sociology as a science?

Answer 11

• Sociology is not a science as women should not be studied like inanimate objects.

Question 12

What three sociologists believe sociology could be a science if it changed?

Answer 12

• Popper
• Kuhn
• Realists

Question 13

What does Popper talk about and what is it?

Answer 13

• Falsification; Science is constantly falsified as it sets out to disprove ideas, and if they cannot be disproved they are the best version of the truth.

-Sociology cannot be a science as it cannot be falsified, if we want sociology to be a science, we should attempt to falsify instead of verify

Question 14

What does Popper believe about inductive reasoning?

Answer 14

• Its a myth; something cannot be completely true as there will never be enough observations of it, inductive reasoning is too dependant on time and space and therefore is a myth.

Question 15

Why does Kuhn believe sociology cannot be a science?

Answer 15

• Sociology cannot be a science yet because there is not ne agreed upon paradigm to follow, instead we have met-narratives that argue for the truth.

-A paradigm provides principles and methods to work from and follow.

Question 16

Why do realists believe sociology is not a science yet?

Answer 16

• They distinguish between two systems:
  Open: cannot control variables or make accurate predictions.
  Closed; Can control & predict.
• Sociology operates in an open system, therefore cannot be completely scientific and we can only study certain aspects of society scientifically.

Question 17

What postmodernist believes it is no longer relevant to discuss if sociology is a science or not:

Answer 17

• Foucault

Question 18

What does Foucault believe?

Answer 18

• There is no objective reality out there waiting to be measured, science, sociology and religion are all met narratives.
• Theories are no longer relevant in todays society.