Sociology as a science

Question 1

Positivist view (Durkheim and Comte)

Answer 1

• Is a science and should be considered one
• can be studied objectively and as a real thing
• use inductive reasoning to observe and study social facts

Question 2

Kuhn

Answer 2

• not a science but it could be
• it needs a single paradigm (basic framework of assumptions) which at the moment it doesn’t have

Question 3

Post Modernist criticism of Kuhn

Answer 3

a single paradigm isn’t desirable in sociology as its too close to becoming a meta narrative

Question 4

Interpretivist view

Answer 4

• cannot and should not be a science
• cant be a science as they differ in 2 major areas
  Observable vs Unobservable
  Consciousness - sociology studies conscious beings unlike science

Question 5

Popper

Answer 5

• not a science but it could be
• could be a science if it produced testable hypothesis
• good theories are ones which can stand up against challenges

Question 6

Realist view (Keat and Urry)