Sociology and science

Question 1

Explain the components of science

Answer 1

Components of a science:
Empirical = measure
Testable= tested and retested
Theoretical= causal relationships, not describe, but explain
Cumulative= previous knowledge
Objective= no personal feelings + prejudice (bias)

Question 2

Why Comte believed sociology is a science

Answer 2

• discover laws that shape behaviour
• explains how things relate to each other
• scientific principles (objective quantitative)
• cause & effect

Question 3

Durkheim sociology is a science (suicide)

Answer 3

All elements of society can be studied scientifically
- suicide, social fact product of the social structure of any society

Question 4

Weber belief that sociology should not be a science

Answer 4

Verstehen plays a crucial role in understanding behaviour + social change

Interpretivists= essential to interpret meanings to understand society.
(through qualitative methods)

Question 5

Popper belief sociology should not be a science

Answer 5

theories can’t be falsified
(marxism states there will be a revolution to overthrow capitalism this hasn’t happened due to a false class consciousness)

Question 6

Kuhn’s paradigm shifts, why sociology is a pre-science

Answer 6

Sociology doesn’t have a single paradigm, science does
paradigm: basic framework of assumptions, principles and methods