SOCIOLOGY and SCIENCE

Answer 1

Positivists argue sociology can be a science by modelling itself on the natural sciences, using quantitative methods and induction or verificationism to establish observable patterns in behaviour and develop casual laws. On the other hand, interpretivists argue sociology cannot be scientific, because humans are governed by internal meanings. Therefore, the task of sociology is to use verstehen to uncover such meanings. Alternatively, Kuhn sits on the fence of the debate and believes sociology will never pass the stage of pre-science because there is never one dominant perspective, and it may never have a unifying theory.

Question 2

sociology IS a science

Answer 2

POSITIVISTS:
Reality exists outside and independently of the mind
and there for it can be studied objectively and as a real
thing. They believe that there are social facts which
make up the rules of society which are separate and
independent of individuals. Due to this belief Positivists
believe that society can be studied in the same way as
the natural world and that patterns can be observed
and analysed to create the social facts which rule
society. This method is called inductive reasoning, which
involves accumulating data about the world through
careful observation and measurement. From this data a theory can be formed and verified through further study.
Positivists believe that sociology should follow the
objective experimental methods that the natural
sciences follow so that the research remains value free
and patterns and causation can be established.

REALISTS
(KEATS and URRY)

Realists recognise there are some SIMILARITIES between Sociology and the
natural science depending on the amount of CONTROL the researcher has over
their variables. They identify 2 types of system within science.
CLOSED SYSTEMS – researchers are able to CONTROL and MEASURE all the relevant variables and therefore make predictions, similar to chemistry
and physics.
OPEN SYSTEMS – The researcher is not able to control and measure all the
variables so cannot make precise predictions due to the complex nature of
the subject area, for example meteorology.
KEAT and URRY see that
SOCIOLOGY is an OPEN SYSTEM as there are often complex systems and multiple
variables which the researcher cannot control.

Question 3

sociology IS NOT a science

Answer 3

INTERPRETVIST:
Sociology and science DIFFER on two major areas.
1) OBERVABLE v UNOBSERVABLE –
SOCIOLOGY is concerned
with INTERNAL MEANINGS BEHIND ACTIONS
and NOT EXTERNAL CAUSES so is UNOBSERVABLE, however, SCIENCE looks at OBSERVABLE CAUSE and EFFECTS.

2) CONSCIOUSNESS –

NATURAL SCIENCES study MATTER which doesn’t have CONSCIOUSNESS and so
BEHAVIOUR can be explained as a REACTION TO EXTERNAL STIMULUS. However, SOCIOLOGY studies PEOPLE, who HAVE CONSCIOUSNESS.
They MAKE SENSE of the world by ATTACHING MEANINGS: are INTERNAL and NOT EXTERNAL STIMULI.

Question 4

SOCIOLOGY IS AND IS NOT A SCIENCE

Answer 4

FALSIFICATION:
(POPPER)

believes that instead of verification, what makes science unique is the idea of Falsification: statements can be PROVEN WRONG by EVIDENCE. So a good
theory is one that stands up to any attempts to disprove it. Popper states that sociology at present is not a science because its theories
and statements are not able to be put to the test with the possibility of being falsified. For example Marxism states that there will be a
revolution to overthrow capitalism but this revolution has not yet occurred due to false class consciousness. This means that Marxism
cannot be falsified as if there is a revolution then Marxism is correct and even if there is not a revolution Marxism is still correct. But Popper said the sociology could be a science because it is capable of producing testable hypotheses.

PARADIGMS
(KUHN)

PARADIGMS: basic framework of ASSUMPTIONS that tell SCIENTISTS how to THINK and BEHAVE and ALTHOUGH in science there are RIVAL SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS there is still a SINGLE PARADIGM that all scientists ACCEPT UNCRITICALLY.
At present SOCIOLOGY DOESN’T HAVE A SINGLE PARADIGM, there
are RIVAL SCHOOLSOF THOUGHT and NO CONSENSUS on how to study society. KUHN refers to this as being PRE-PARADIGMATIC: Sociology could be a science if it DEVELOPS A SHARED PARADIGM.

However, POSTMODERNISTS do not think a SINGLE PARADIGM is
DESIRABLE in sociology as it is TOO CLOSE to being a META -NARRATIVE.