Is sociology a science - realism

Question 1

what do realism believe

Answer 1

rejects positivists that science is only observable phenomena but also states interpretivists are wrong by saying it is not scientific

Question 2

What do they argue about similarities of science and sociology?

Answer 2

They stress similarities between sociology and natural science in terms of (control over variables)being researched

Question 3

What do they argue an open system is ?

Answer 3

where the researcher is not able to measure all the relevant variables so cannot be precise predictions.

Question 4

What do they argue a closed system is?

Answer 4

researcher is able to control all the relevant variables - so can make precise predictions

Question 5

what system do they believe sociology operates within?

Answer 5

Realists argue sociology occurs in a (open system) so the processes are (too complex to make exact predictions)

Question 6

What is meant by underlying structures?

Answer 6

Keat and Urry argue - science often assumes the existence of unobservable structures.

• They believe both social science and natural sciences seek to explain causes of events in terms of (underlying structures and processes) - although processes unobservable they can be measured through its effect e.g social class

Question 7

So is sociology scientific ?

Answer 7

Therefore they believe a lot of sociology is scientific - such as interpreting behaviour in terms of meanings even though they are internal.
E.g Marxism (unlike Popper) is scientific as it sees the (underlying structures) capitalism having an effect of (poverty)

So realists see little differences between natural science and sociology except that some natural sciences have to be studied in closed systems - within a lab

Question 8

summary

Answer 8

argue science does not just study observable phenomena (as positivists argue) but also the unobservable structures.