is sociology as science?

Question 1

positivism - is soc a science ?

Answer 1

yes

Question 2

patterns, laws and inductive reasoning - POSITIVISM

Answer 2

reality is not random but patterned and we can empirically observe these patterns - job of science to observe, identify and measure these patterns

inductive reasoning - involves accumulating data about the world through careful observations and measurement

Question 3

verificationism - POSITIVISM

Answer 3

inductive claims to verify a theory this is known as verificationism

P’s seek to discover the cause of patterns and produce scientific laws about how society works - can be used to predict the future and guide social policy

Question 4

verificationism ao2

Answer 4

physics explains an apple falling to the ground in terms of gravity

Question 5

quantitative research - POSITIVISTS

Answer 5

they use experimental methods used in natural sciences because it allows the investigator to test hypothesis in a systematic and controlled way

Question 6

why should data be detached and objective? - POSITIVISTS

Answer 6

should not let own subjective feelings, values or prejudices influence how they conduct research - dander researcher might ‘contaminate’ research

Question 7

positivism and suicide

Answer 7

DURKEHEIM - quantitative data from official statistics - observed there was social patterns
demonstrates society has it sown unique subject matter = social facts

Question 8

INTERPRETIVISTS - why is sociology not a science

Answer 8

because science only deals with laws of cause and effect and not human meanings

MEAD - we have free will and exercise choice - we are not puppets we construct the social world through meaning that we give

Question 9

verstehen - INTERPRETIVISTS

Answer 9

= empathetic understanding to grasp others meanings

use it to discover the meanings people give to their actions

Question 10

how to interpretivists reject positivists

Answer 10

reject the idea that we should have a hypothesis as this risks imposing our own views on what’s important
- our ideas emerge from observations during research

Question 11

interpretivism and suicide

Answer 11

DOUGLAS AND ATKINSON - individuals have free will and choose to act on the basis of meanings
should use qualitative data to reveal meanings and rates - but only thing we can really study is the way the living interpret death

Question 12

what is meant by science

Answer 12

a set of principles that tells us how to produce valid knowledge
something is scientific when it used empiricism

Question 13

KUHN - paradigm

Answer 13

provides a basic framework of assumptions, principles, methods and techniques

a set of norms - it tells scientists how they ought to think and behave

Question 14

does sociology have a paradigm

Answer 14

no , there’s not a set of norms in which the way society works
example of the family -
func = say it benefits all
fem = benefits men
Marx = benefits capitalism

Question 15

what is the unique aspect of science - KUHN

Answer 15

puzzle solving - paradigm allows scientists to agree on the basis of their subject

Question 16

what does POPPER think the unique aspect of science is

Answer 16

falsification

Question 17

implications for sociology

Answer 17

sociology is pre-paradigmatic and therefore pre-scientific as its divided into competing schools of thought

• it can only be a science when disagreements such as between func and Marx on whether society is based on consensus or conflict

Question 18

POPPER - fallacy of induction

Answer 18

rejects positivists view that distinctive feature of science lies in inductive reasoning and verificationism

‘swan’ example - we can never prove a theory by simply producing more observations that support it

Question 19

POPPER swan example

Answer 19

by observing a group of white swans we could make the generalisation that ‘all swans are white’ - you could verify this with many more white swans
a single observation of a black swan will destroy this theory - we can never prove a theory by producing more observstions to support it

Question 20

POPPER - falsification

Answer 20

opposite of verificationism
a scientific statement is one that can be proved wrong by evidence

a good theory has 2 features:
falsifiable - stands up to attempts to disprove it
it is bold makes big generalisations

Question 21

POPPER - open society

Answer 21

to be falsifiable a theory must be open to criticism
science is a public activity so flaws can be exposed and better theories developed

Question 22

REALIST - open systems

Answer 22

those where the researcher cannot control and measure all the relevant variables

Question 23

REALIST - closed systems

Answer 23

where the researcher can control and measure all the relevant variables and therefore make precise predictions

Question 24

why do realists reject positivists view

Answer 24

positivist view = science is only concerned with observable phenomena

KEAT AND URRY - argue science often assumes the existence of unobservable structures

e.g. interior of the black hole

Question 25

why do realists reject interpretivists

Answer 25

because they believe that because actors’ meanings are in their minds, they aren’t directly observable and cannot be studied scientifically

Question 26

why do realists say sociology is scientific

Answer 26

regard marxism as scientific because it sees structures such as capitalism producing effects such as poverty

scientific when they interpret behaviour interns of actors’ meanings

see little difference between natural science and sociology