Sociology as a Science

Question 1

who are the two positivists who believe sociology is a science

Answer 1

Durkheim
Comte

Question 2

describe Comtes argument on sociology being a science(2)

Answer 2

• science doesn’t explain why it explains how things relate to each other using laws
• sociology tasked to discover laws of existence (relationships between parts of society) and laws of succession (laws that govern social change)

Question 3

what logic do positivists use and explain it

Answer 3

inductive logic ; type of reasoning that involves moving from one set of specific facts to a general conclusion

Question 4

who criticises Comte and why (state their view as well)

Answer 4

• Durkheim criticises Comte for failing to establish sociology as a science
• social facts should be studied as things to ibserve and measure

Question 5

who argues the realist approach

Answer 5

Sayer

Question 6

what is Sayers approach (describe jt)

Answer 6

-Realist Approach; there are two types of science : closed systems that make accurate predictions and controls variables and open systems that don’t make accurate predictions but explain things scientifically

Question 7

summarise the theorists and arguments for why sociology IS a science

Answer 7

• positivists Durkheim and Comte
• Inductive Logic
• Realist Approach w/ Sayer

Question 8

state Karl Popper’s argument why sociology is NOT a science

Answer 8

• academic subject area wishing to be a science must be subject to falsification (can be false but is proven not to be)
• sociology must have a testable hypotheses
• Marxism is rejected as a pseudo science as its concepts are too abstract to be seen / measured and cannot be falsified (revolution)

Question 9

what is an analogy about Karl Poppers argument

Answer 9

if there is a hypothesis that all swans are white , you look for a different colour swan not more white swans

Question 10

what type of logic does Karl Popper use

Answer 10

deductive logic ; theory is bombarded with challenges to test hypothesis to see if it is right

Question 11

which interpretivist argues sociology is NOT a science

Answer 11

Weber

Question 12

what is Webers argument

Answer 12

• NOT ; sociology should study society from the perspective of other people to understand the how /why
• verstehen perspective requires subject understanding drawn from opinion
• science is objective and doesn’t allow opinions so sociology canNOT be a science

Question 13

what is the postmodernist argument

Answer 13

• world is full of socially constructed symbols and language and are unpredictable and varied in culture
• there is not one universal truth only versions of truth based on societal contexts unlike science

Question 14

who is in the fence on whether sociology is or isn’t a science

Answer 14

Thomas Kuhn

Question 15

explain Kuhn’s argument about science

Answer 15

• science goes through series of paradigm shifts and revolutions
• starts as pre science where there is no central paradigm THEN normal science when scientists use established paradigm to support theories THEN revolutionary science where the paradigms are challenged
• eg ppl accepted earth was flat until paradigm shift

Question 16

explain Kuhns argument about sociology as a science

Answer 16

• if everything we know now is wrong is science really objective ?
• sociology acts as a pre science with no dominant perspective that needs to find its unifying theory

Question 17

give some other general problems with science

Answer 17

• anomalies are often ignored
• finance affects subject choice and findings
• personal ambitions / values and rivalries impact process
• negative findings not always published