Sociology and Science Flashcards
Sociology CANNOT/SHOULD NOT be a science vs SHOULD AND CAN
What are the 4 reasons why Sociology CAN and SHOULD BE a science?
- Positivists
- Objectivity
- Paradigm Shift
- Some sociology can be falsified.
What are the 4 reasons why sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be a science?
- Interpretivists
- Committed Sociology
- Paradigms
- Falsification
What do Positivists want Sociology to be perceived as? Why?
- Durkheim and other positivists want sociology to be perceived as and follow same structure as natural scientists - so can gain true, objective knowledge similar to natural sciences.
Why do Positivist sociologists want to use objective information?
To solve social problems and achieve progress
Which Positivist used objective information in their research?
Durkheim used official statistics to make comparisons of suicide statistics - large amount of data allowed his findings to be representative.
According to Positivists, why should sociology be a science?
Using scientific methods allows us to gain objective data.
What other explanation for why sociology should not be a science matches to Positivists?
Interpretivists
Why do Interpretivists think it is inappropriate to use scientific research methods in Sociology?
Scientific research methods are inappropriate to study society, as society cannot it into a lab or be quantified, which positivists seek to do.
According to Interpretivists, what should sociologists seek to do in research? Which data enables them to do this?
Sociologists should seek to gain verstehen (empathetic understanding of ppts). Qualitative data should be generated for detail and depth.
Which Interpretivist criticised Durkheim’s research on suicide? Why?
- Douglas has criticised Durkheim for using quantitative data and studying suicide using official statistics.
How do Interpretivists think issues like suicide should be studied? How did Douglas study suicide?
Issues such as suicide should be studied sensitively using qualitative data in order to gain in depth data and verstehen. Douglas studied suicide using documents such as suicide notes - looking into WHY suicide, rather than simply considering them a number.
Therefore, Interpretivists believe Sociology cannot and should not be a science because…
Sociology, as a subject, should aim to gain detailed, in depth understanding of society.
What is meant by Objectivity? Which sociologists value objectivity?
Positivist sociologists value objectivity (being factual and keeping opinions out of the research)
Objectivity: Why should Sociologists not impose their own values into research?
Sociology should be value free - not impose their own values in studies. Sociological data should be objective so not clouded by subjective opinions, increasing validity.
Objectivity: What might happen if sociologists did impose their own values into research?
Validity would be compromised and becomes tainted by research bias and opinion.
What explanation for why Sociology cannot and should not be a science matches Objectivity?
Committed Sociology
Committed Sociology: What did Marxist, Gouldner, argue sociologists should be doing?
Marxist, Gouldner, argues sociologists should be committed to their discipline by openly taking sides. Should advocate for values and interests of particular groups - the ‘underdogs’ such as EMs, WC, women..
Committed Sociology: Who else, asides from Marxists, agree Sociologists should take a side? Whose side should they take, and why?
Feminists argue sociologists should be on the side of females - so they have voice in patriarchy. Empathising with ppts = verstehen.
Committed Sociology: What is a key difference between the social and natural sciences?
Natural sciences are value free, and opinions of scientists not expected to impose their own values in scientific research. Highlights a significant difference between social and natural sciences.
What is meant by a Paradigm Shift?
A movement away from the paradigm and the shared set of assumptions, where, as confidence in the existing paradigm declines, scientists seek new answers.
When does a scientific revolution take place? What indicates that a paradigm shift has occurred?
A scientific revolution takes place as scientists look for a strong set of objective findings. When scientific community accepts competing paradigm, this becomes the new paradigm - indicating a paradigm shift has occurred.
What is an example of a Paradigm Shift in Science?
Everyone used to believe the world was flat, until it was proved to be round, and became the new paradigm.
Where have Paradigm Shifts occurred in Sociology?
Sociologists, such as Functionalists and Marxists, agreed that we were in a modern society, but a new theory of Postmodernism has emerged, who argue we have moved away from modernity, indicating a paradigm shift has occured.
Therefore. Why does Paradigm Shifts prove sociology can and should be a science?
Paradigm shifts occur in the natural sciences the same way they do in sociology - therefore should be a science as similar.
What argument for why Sociology cannot and should not be a science matches Paradigm Shifts?
Paradigm
What is a Paradigm? What might a paradigm tell researchers?
A shared set of assumptions, which people within the same discipline hold. A paradigm tells researchers how they ought to think/behave - scientists come to accept the paradigm uncritically due to their socialisation.
What is an example of a Paradigm in science?
All biologists believe in photosynthesis and base their future research on this assumption.
The natural sciences all have a paradigm, in which they base…
their research on
What did Kuhn argue would happen for science without a paradigm?
Kuhn: Science cannot exist without a shared paradigm as without a shared consensus there would only be rival thoughts and not a unified body of research.
Does Sociology have a Paradigm?
Sociology does not have a Paradigm, as competing theories exist. Eg. NR do not agree with Feminists, a shared set of assumptions do not exist in sociology.
Paradigm: Therefore, Sociology cannot and should not be a science because…
No unified, shared set of ideas to base research on.
What is a final reason why Sociology can and should be considered a science?
- Some sociology can be…
Some sociology can be falsified.
What does it mean if some theories/aspects of sociology can be falsified?
Some theories can be falsified - tested, and proven wrong by others.
What is an example of where some theories of sociology have been falsified?
Theories have managed to falsify the NR belief that SPFs lead to a life of crime. Theories such as Feminism and LRs criticise NR for this assumption and proved Murray wrong.
If some sociology can be falsified, why should it therefore be a science?
Falsification is a key feature of science, and sociology can be falsified just like in the natural sciences, and so should therefore be a science.
What explanation of why Sociology cannot and should not be a science matches ‘some sociology can be falsified’?
Falsification
Falsification: What did Popper argue makes science unique?
Popper: What makes science unique is falsificationism - a scientific statement is one that can be falsified and proved wrong.
Falsification: Why is sociology seen as unscientific?
Sociology can be seen as unscientific because it consists of theories that cannot be tested or falsified/disproven.
What is an example of how Sociology cannot be falsified?
Marx predicts a revolution will occur, leading to a classless society, but this has not happened because of proletariats’ FCC. So, prediction cannot be falsified. If there is a revolution, Marx is correct. If there isn’t, Marx is still correct.
