Theories Flashcards
is sociology a science?
Yes: Positivism + Realism
No: Interpretivism + Kuhn
Positivism
Sociology is a science because logic and methods of natural science can be applied to study society to solve social problems. Positivist favour the inductive method for discovering social facts which involve examining the data, creating a theory, and finally verifying this theory and only then is it accepted as a social fact.
This is exemplified by Durkheim who studied suicide using official statistics to show that sociology is a science and that even an act as personal as killing yourself is socially determined.
Realism
There is little difference between sociology and natural sciences.
Keat and Urry point out that science can be both a closed system where the researcher can control all relevant variables e.g. titration in chemistry (a typical lab experiment) but also an open system where the researcher cannot control and measure all relevant variables e.g. a natural experiment observing black holes in physics.
If natural scientists can study unobservable phenomena then so can Sociologists (e.g. the meanings people attach to their actions).
Therefore, according to relativism both natural and social sciences are scientific as they both attempt to explain the causes of events in terms of underlying structures and processes
Kuhn
Soc is in the pre-scientific stage where there is no widely accepted paradigm (a set of rules, norms for what to study and how, but in Soc there is disagreement, e.g. between functionalists + marxists about whether society is based on consensus or conflict.
For Kuhn, science only exists when it has an accepted paradigm, e.g. all physicists accept gravity so sociology is not a science
Interpretivism
Sociology is not a science because science only deals with laws of cause and effect and sociologists study different subject matter to what natural sciences study – humans have agency (free will and consciences) which can only be understood using qualitative methods to understand the meanings behind human actions as this allows the achievement of verstehen.
Example: Douglas studied suicide using the Interpretivist approach and to understand why people commit suicide, we need to understand the meanings they attached to the act of killing themselves through studying diaries/notes
In what ways can sociology influence social policy?
Sociologist research can change commonly held attitudes and values e.g. homoxuality which can eventually lead to a change in legilisation e.g. homosexuality being made legal
Humphries: Tearoom Trade
Research about cottaging (going to the toilets to have sex)
Covert participant observation
Results: vast majority participating were straight white catholic men
It changed assumptions of how the public view homosexuality as respectable m/c white men were engaging in it
Providing a theoretical framework
Different sociological perspectives provide the theoretical background for many political parties
New Right tends to influence Conservative policies, while New Labour was influenced by Giddens.
Example: Murray - benefits are a perverse incentive and create a dependency culture - conservatives cut benefits in 2010
What are the barriers that may prevent a sociologist from influencing the government?
Role played by interest groups who are pressure groups that aim to influence government policies. They may pressure the government not to implement the recommendations put forward by Sociologists, e.g. business pressure groups may be opposed to raising the minimum wage. A pressure group may have more influence than a sociologist that proposes to put forward the idea of increasing the minimum wage would be refused and unsuccessful thus preventing the sociologist’s influence
The ideology of the ruling gov – a left wing sociologists will not be able to influence a right wing gov, e.g. Gillborn is a Critical Race theory sociologist (soc is institutionally racist) and the current gov is Con and they argue inst. racism does not exist. Therefore, the gov would never listen to or implement Gillborn’s suggestions
What is the role of social policies?
New Right – the purpose of soc policy is to reduce gov interference, people should be self-sufficient. For this
reason, they’re in favour of any policy that introduces the principles of free market economy into the laws e.g.
free schools + opposed to any policy that creates gov interference, e.g. welfare which creates dependency culture…
Feminism – to maintain patriarchy – soc policies allow women’s subordination to continue in society. Eg..
Maternity/paternity leave, benefit entitlement, lack of state provision for the elderly care,
Postivists/functionalists - objectivity
Early positivists and functionalists -
Sociology is studied using objective scientific methods to discover the truth about how society works. This should produce knowledge that can be used to solve social problem
Case study on Durkheim remaining objective in research of suicide
Committed Sociology
Committed Soc – Gouldner – Soc should take the side of the underdog and represent the interests of powerless groups e.g. Feminists would be concerned with women’s subordination in society. Values are therefore needed to guide soc research. Example = griffin
Funding and careers
Funding and career – gov and charities fund soc research so the funding body will control the research method and topic of research so it will reflect their values/interests e.g. Sutton Trust
Personal values - sociologist keen to further careers so choose a ‘in fashion’ topic or censor their findings for fear of being too outspoken and damaging their career.
Marxism - objectivity
Traditional Marxism
Sociology is a science and be used to better society
Marx considered his methods of historical analysis/historical materialism scientific
Thinking objectively would reveal the development of human society through an evolution of different types of class based societies.
Marx argued that the role of Sociology was to reveal the truth of this development which will enable us to reach the classless communist society.
However, he failed to acknowledge the value of the ideal communist society.
is sociology objective
Yes - marxism + functionalists/positivits
No - committed sociology + funding/careers
