Sociology as a Science

Question 1

Science Can: Positivists

Answer 1

Want to be perceived as one of the natural science
Able to study society with scientific methods
Used statistics to make comparisons of suicide across Europe
The enlightenment project

Question 2

Science Can: Objectivity

Answer 2

Research should be value free
Validity is compromised with researcher bias and opinion

Question 3

Science Can: Paradigm Shift

Answer 3

The shared set of assumptions can change
Science: Earth being flat then round
Sociology: Marxism etc then postmodernism

Question 4

Science Can: Some Sociology can be Falsified

Answer 4

Disproved the new right view
Can be proven wrong
Sociology: New right believe single parents lead to a life of crime

Question 5

Science Can’t: Interpretivists

Answer 5

In depth data cannot be found using scientific methods
Douglas used notes rather than statistics compared to Durkheim
Try to gain vestehen

Question 6

Science Can’t: Committed Sociology

Answer 6

Must include their values into their research to make a difference to society
Should take the sides of the underdogs of society
Natural sciences are value free showing the difference

Question 7

Science Can’t: Paradigm

Answer 7

Sociological theories are not unified
New right don’t agree with feminists etc
Science has to have paradigms that sociology does not have

Question 8

Science Can’t: Falsification

Answer 8

It is difficult to disprove sociological arguments
Marx revolution example [correct whether revolution occurs or not]