SOCIOLOGY and SCIENCE - Need to Finish Making

Question 1

3 SOCIOLOGISTS Arguing SOICOLOGY IS a SCIENCE through POSITIVISM

Answer 1

• MARX
• DURKHEIM
• POPPER

Question 2

Explain Sociology IS a Science - COMTE -

Answer 2

• Sociology should be Based n Methodology of Natural Sceince
• Results in ‘Positiv

Question 3

Explain Sociology IS a Science - DURKHEIM

Answer 3

• Used Study of Suicide to Show Sociology Was a Science with it’s Own Distinct Subject Matter
• Believed if he Could Prove that Even such a Highly Individual Act had Social Causes, this would Establish Sociology as a Science
• Using Quantitivative Data from OS, Observed there were Patterns in Suicide Rates -> Concluded these Patterns Can’t be Product of Motives of Individuals, But were Social Facts
• As such, they Must be Caused by Other Social Facts - Forces Acting Upon Members of Society to Determine Their Behaviour
• The Social Facts Responsible for Determinine Suicide Rate was Integration (involvement) and Regulation (control)
• Thus Durkheim has Discovered a ‘Real Law’ that Different Levels of Integration and Regulation Produce Different Rates of Suicide

Question 4

How DOES MARX support VIEW that SOCIOLOGY IS a SCIENCE

Answer 4

• was POSSIBLE to PRODUCE a ‘POSITIVE SCIENCE of SOCIETY’ in that the SOCIAL WORLD is GOVERNED by LAWS of CAUSE and EFFECT in SAME WAY as BEHAVIOUR of OBJECTS IN the NATURAL WORLD
• claimed His THEORIES of CLASS STRUGGLE, REVOLUTION were BASED on CAUSE and EFFECT THEORIES ESTABLISHED BY the APPLICATION of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD to HISTORICAL EMPIRICAL DATA. In Keeping with Aims of Natural Science, a ‘SCIENCE of SOCIETY was SEEN as a MEANS To SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, IMPROVING the QUALITY Of HUMAN LIVES and MAKING the WOLRD a BETTER PLACE to LIVE IN

Question 5

Explain POPPER’S Positivist view that Sociology ISN’T be a Science

Answer 5

• Positivist Sociology Failed to be Scientific as intended Because it Used Inductive Reasoning Rather than Deductive Reasoning -> Instead of Subjecting Hypothesis to Falsification, they Do the Opposite - Find Evidence that Supports their Hypothesis
• This Approach is Flawed –> e.g. if Hypothesis that “all swans are white”, you would Find More Supporting Evidence
• While Inductive Reasoning Requires Researcher to Look for Evidence Supporting Hypothesis, True Scientific Method Attempts to Falisfy the Hypothesis -> Called this Falsification
• Instead of Searching for Supporting Evidence, Researcher should Try and Prove that Hypothesis is Untrue

Question 6

Explain view Sociology ISN’T a Science - INTERPRETIVISTS

Answer 6

• Because Human Think and Reflect, Scientific Methods are Inappropriate As they Don’t Allow us to Truly Understand and Dig Beneath the Surface of Behaviours and Actions
• Unlike Objects, which can be Analysed by Science, Humans Change their Behaviour If Know they’re Being Observed -> Hawthrone Effect -> Therefore If we Want to Understand Social Action -> Need to Delve Into Meanings Using Qualitative, Unscientific Methods
• Interpretivists are Subjective -> Science Isn’t Appropriate for Socio as it Gives Objective Results and Data
• Purpose of Socio is to Understand Human Behaviour, Not Quantity it Using Scientific Methods

Question 7

Popper

Answer 7

• Rejects Positivist View that Science Based on Verificationsim - idea we can Prove a Theory True by Gathering Evidence that Supports it
• Instead Science is Unique because of Falsificationsim - a Statement is Scientific If Capable of Being Falsified By the Evidence
• a Good Theory Therefore is : Falsifiable in Principle, But when Tested it Stands Up to Attempts to Disprove it

Question 8

KUHN

Answer 8

• Sociology can Only be a Science Once All Sociologists Adpot a Single Shared Paradigm