Is Sociology A Sceince

Question 1

How does a positivist believe that sociology is empirical?

Answer 1

Durkheim- external “real things” that exist in society
Example- social class, religion can be measured

Question 2

How does a positivist believe that sociology can be theoretical?

Answer 2

Durkheim-group behaviour is predictable, e.g- suicide study

Question 3

How does a positivist believe that sociology can be objective?

Answer 3

Durkheim- it can be value free if hypothetical deductive method is used

Question 4

How does a positivist believe that sociology can be testable?

Answer 4

Durkheim and Marx- theories are open to verification from others. Accounts for differences between Marxism and functionalism

Question 5

What is Poppers inductive approach?

Answer 5

Bottoms up, gathering and analysing data

Question 6

What is poppers deductive approach?

Answer 6

Top down, testing a theory and trying to prove false

Question 7

How does popper criticise Marx?

Answer 7

He fails to specify what happens before the revolution

Question 8

How do positivists argue that sociology can be scientific?

Answer 8

methodology of natural sciences can be applied to social sciences

Question 9

How can we challenge the view of Popper and positivists?

Answer 9

society is an open system, therefore variables are not controlled, difficult for a theory to be falsified

Question 10

according to Popper and positivists, is sociology a science?

Answer 10

yes but only if it follows the scientific methods used by Durkheim or Popper

Question 11

What does Weber the interpretivist say about sociology being a science?

Answer 11

sociology should study society from the perspective of others . Science is objective and verstehen is subjective so sociology cannot b a science

Question 12

What does Rorty as a postmodernists say?

Answer 12

scientists have replaced priests as a source of “truth”

Question 13

What does Lyotard as a postmodernist say?

Answer 13

scientific language limits us from looking at things in different ways

Question 14

What was Khun’s pre-science?

Answer 14

the discovery period, no central paradigm yet

Question 15

What was Khun’s normal science?

Answer 15

a paradigm is established- for example the evolution theory

Question 16

What was Khun’s revolutionary science?

Answer 16

paradigms are challenged

Question 17

What was the case study of Dr Velikosky and what did it show?

Answer 17

proposed “alternative” theory to how earth was created
ideas were outright rejected by scientific community.
his work was boycotted and reputation was left in tatters
shows how paradigms are strict

Question 18

What does Sayer as a realist say about whether sociology is a science?

Answer 18

open and closed system science, open recognizes unpredictability
example- weather is not always accurate- therefore disagreeing with positivists

Question 19

What does Bauman and Billard say about sociology being a science as postmodernists?

Answer 19

science is a metanarrative. no more valid than other beliefs.

Question 20

What does Harding say as a feminist on whether sociology is a science?

Answer 20

science is adequate as its “malestream”, holds little value to women.