Sociology As A Science

Question 1

Weber

Answer 1

“Social action theory”-4 types of action.

1. Instrumentally rational: actor calculates most efficient way of meeting a goal.
2. Value rational: action towards a goal that the actor regards as desirable for its own sake.
3. Traditional action: habitual actions.
4. Affectual action: action that expresses emotion.

Question 2

Giddens

Answer 2

Structuration theory- structure and action e.g language.

Structure: 1. Rules 2. Resources.

Question 3

Kuhn

Answer 3

“Scientific paradigms”
Provides a framework of assumptions within which members of that community work.
‘Normal science’ doesn’t question the paradigm.
Currently sociology is pre-paradigmatic and therefore pre-scientific sociology can become a science if basic disagreements were resolved.

Question 4

Popper

Answer 4

Fallacy of induction e.g Swans “All swans are white” but this cannot be proven.
Falsification e.g. Science statements is one that can be falsified, it can stand up to attempts to disprove it.