Topic 3- The nature of science

Question 1

What does Popper say

Answer 1

Hypothetico deductive method

Question 2

What are the 8 steps of poppers theory

Answer 2

1. Hypothesis formation- forming ideas
2. Falsification- testing them against evidence
3. Use of empirical evidence- proven wrong
4. Replication- checked by others
5. Accumulation of evidence- built up evidence
6. Prediction- cause + effect
7. Theory formulation- confidence
8. Scrutiny- scrutinized

Question 3

What does the principle of falsification say

Answer 3

-Rejects positivists
-No hypothesis can be finally proven true as there is the possibility of future exception

Question 4

What does the white swan principle say

Answer 4

There is always a possibility of finding an exception of a non white swan so there will always remain a probability and not a proven fact

Question 5

What does objectivity mean

Answer 5

Open mindness- value freedom- open to inspection and criticism of others

Question 6

What does popper believe

Answer 6

Much of society is unscientific as it consists of theories that cant be put to test with the possibility that they might be falsified

Question 7

Examples of positivist theorists

Answer 7

Comte, Marx, Durkheim

Question 8

What does Comte argue

Answer 8

That the application of natural science methodology to the study of society would produce a ‘positive science of society’

Question 9

What does Marx argue

Answer 9

Claimed his theories of class struggle, revolution and the transition to communism were based on cause and effect

Question 10

What does Durkheim argue

Answer 10

Argued for a positivist approach in sociology with his rule

Question 11

What are the main features of positivism

Answer 11

-Human behaviour is a response to observable social facts
-Study of social institutions and the social structure
-Focus on the search for the social causes of events
-Direct observation and quantitative data

Question 12

What does interpretivism say

Answer 12

Sociology cant be a science

Question 13

Weber

Answer 13

Verstehen- give meaning to their actions and researchers can only understand these meanings

Question 14

Who are realist theorists

Answer 14

Bhaskar, Durkheim

Question 15

What does Bhaskar say

Answer 15

Positivists view is based on an incorrect assumption that scientific method is based only on that which can be observed

Question 16

What does Durkheims study of suicide say

Answer 16

used the social forces of social integration and moral regulation

Question 17

What is a closed system

Answer 17

Causal factors are under the control of the researcher and precise measurements are possible in a closed environment

Question 18

What is an open system

Answer 18

factors cannot be controlled and prediction is much more difficult and imprecise

Question 19

Who do realists reject

Answer 19

Positivists and interpretivists

Question 20

What does the social constructionist approach say

Answer 20

Suggests that science, scientific method and scientific knowledge as not objective things

Question 21

What does Kuhn say

Answer 21

Questions whether scientists really do in practice set out to collect evidence with the scientific aim of trying to falsify their hypothesis

Question 22

What is a paradigm

Answer 22

Acts like a pair of coloured lenses through which scientists look at ‘puzzles’ they are investigating

Question 23

What does Dr Velikovsky say

Answer 23

His theory challenged some of the most fundamental assumptions of geology, astronomy and biology