Is sociology a science - positivism

Question 1

Do they believe sociology is a science ?

Answer 1

yes

Question 2

Overall of the argument

Answer 2

believe that we are able to apply the methodology of natural science to sociology to allow us to gain the objective knowledge → believe that society is made up of social facts independently of human minds

Question 3

what relationships do they seek?

Answer 3

cause and effect relationships

Question 4

what do they seek to solve within society?

Answer 4

social ills

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning

Answer 5

Society consists of factual patterns that can be observed and measured as Durkheim stats ‘laws are discoverable to explain these patterns’ → laws that determine how society works
(induction) - are able to see patterns happening so accumulate data

Question 6

define verificationism

Answer 6

conistency and reliability
* If observations are repeated multiple times - it can be verified as true due to inductive reasoning

Question 7

What do they believe patterns are observed through and what does this lead to?

Answer 7

Observed through social facts that create cause and effect relaionships

Question 8

How are patterns used / what do they create?

Answer 8

use them to create general laws about how society works which can be used to guide policy

Question 9

Do they prefer objective or subjective data ?

Answer 9

Objective

Question 10

do they prefer quantitative data or qualitative data?

Answer 10

quantitative

Question 11

What do they argue about quantitative objective research method

Answer 11

• Argue sociology should take the scientific methodology of creating a hypothesis to allow mathematically precise statements about the social facts they are investigating.
• Use quantitative data (numerical) → allows causal and effect relationship

Question 12

do they believe in the detachment of the researcher?

Answer 12

Believe the researchers should be objective and attached to not allow researcher bias - such as subjective / prejudicial feelings

• In order to stay detached positivists - use quantitative methods (stats, structured interviews / structured observations) that produce the reliable data that can be checked by repeated (process of verificationism is able)

Question 13

Durkheim’s suicide study - aim

Answer 13

Durkheim wanted to demonstrate sociology was a science so conducted a study of suicide with different groups within society – to prove sociology could prove cause and effect relationships for objective behaviours like the - natural sciences

Question 14

what research method did Durkheim use

Answer 14

Official statistics

Question 15

Durkheim’s procedure

Answer 15

Using quantitative official stats he observed a pattern of protestants were higher than catholics - he stated that this was due to social facts of integration and regulation as catholicism was better at integrating individuals

Question 16

What did Durkheim find you

Answer 16

So he - discovered a ‘real law’ of differing levels of integration and regulation produce different rates of suicide - claims to have demonstrated sociology has irs own unique subject matter of ‘social facts’