Is Sociology a Science? Flashcards
Sources of Knowledge
Wallace (1971)
Authoritarian - someone we trust to = wise gives info we believe - accept as true eg believing parents
Mystical - someone claiming true insight into nature of world - drug induced / relig exper
Logico-Rational - based on following rules of logic - the truth emerges from philosphers
scientific - generate idea test hypothesis using scientific meths - Popper - deductive/inductive
Empirical
Key Features of Science
based on observable / measureable evi - exper known thro senses
Locke magic & some aspects of relig = X empirical bc X exper by all
Testable
Key Features of Science
empirical know should be able to be tested & revisited as many times as needed by other researchers - can = verified & refuted - Popper - falsification
Theoretical
Key Features of Science
one of main areas = create explans of phenom - theory seeks to expl casual rela between phenom X just describing - can be useful working out solus
Cumulative
Key Features of Science
should build on previous know so = ever growing body of know to help make progress
Objective
Key Features of Science
should = unbiased, obj & value free - can be ach by carefully designed tests - can be replicated by dif researchers - try to block out personal prejudices
Is Sociology a Science?
Positivism - can be
Interpretivism - cannot be and should not be
Post Modernism - X should not accept as the truth
Positivism
can be sci if sci meths & prins = followed
Comte - socio should be based on meths of nat sci - revealing invariable laws
Durkheim - socio could be obj as nat science if studied soc facts - suicide rates
Merton - CUDOS norms
Popper Vs Positivism
Postivism - Inductive - examine data, create theory, defend theory - theory from evi
Popper - Deductive - create theory - test against evidence - should try to falsify
Evaluation of Positivism
Kuhn - sci X as open minded - argue not mainly creating and disproving hypothesis - work on soc probs other scis have deemed as NB = paradigms - shape scis view of world - what counts as legit evi how to approach & meths to use
Paradigm shifts - Kuhn - only change when m & m evi X fitting P arises = sci rev & new P created - normal science resumes - no dom P in socio= competing theo povs
Interpretivists
X sci - ppl X objects - engage in meaningful interacs - should try & understand from others POV to understand soc behav - = subj X sci - dif will interp dif depending on background
Sociology is NOT a Science
how can we obj study something we are involv in?
D argues we = external to soc & that the soc struc exists indepen of those in it
Schutz agrees humans construct soc so = integral part of it can’t study obj - can’t study as abj outsider
Billig - sci meth = lim & restricts soc
Mills - being chained to set of strict assumps may = socio imag NB ideas may be missed
Post Modernism
don’t think = sci = meta nar = grand story = X m valid - why pay m attention? - claims MoT
= undes for socio to = sci - not led to progress pos thought would eg harm of risk soc w/ environ hazards caused by sci develops
Realist View
Sayer - many scis theorise about existence of phenom which are dif to observe dectect & predict
