sociology as a science

Question 1

what type of sociologist believes sociology is a science

Answer 1

positivists

Question 2

why does durkheim argue sociology is a science

Answer 2

society is made of objective facts expressed in statistics

these facts cant be influences by personal bias

statistics show cause and effect relationships

human behaviour can be ultimately explained by stimuli and external factors

to be scientific, you should only study what is observable and it is unscientific to study peoples emotions

Question 3

why cant you study society the same as scientists study the natural world

Answer 3

• social world is socially constructed
• you cant understand human behaviour without understanding the meanings people attach to behaviour

Question 4

what did thomas khun focus on

Answer 4

paradigms

Question 5

describe thomas kuhns view on social science

Answer 5

• science is objective and we can work together to gather scientific knowledge. new evidence is being found constantly and can develop existing theories
• the evolution of science knowledge is limited due to paradigm
• people ignore evidence which doesnt fit into a mainstream paradigm.
• any other paradigm other than the dominant paradigm is ignored

Question 6

what is a pardigm

Answer 6

a mainstream view of thinking within science

Question 7

what is a rogue scientist

Answer 7

scientists who argue against the dominant paradigm and carry out alternative research.
if they collect enough research they can shift the dominant paradigm

“PARADIGM SHIFT”

Question 8

What is a paradigm shift

Answer 8

when alternative research contradicts dominant paradigms leading them to be rejected and a new paradigm comes into force