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Sociology As A Science

The document discusses whether sociology can be considered a science. It defines key concepts like theory, positivism, interpretivism, and describes sociological theories. It also compares sociology to natural sciences and discusses arguments for and against sociology being a scientific discipline.

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33 views14 pages

Sociology As A Science

The document discusses whether sociology can be considered a science. It defines key concepts like theory, positivism, interpretivism, and describes sociological theories. It also compares sociology to natural sciences and discusses arguments for and against sociology being a scientific discipline.

Uploaded by

GJf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IS SOCIOLOGY

A
SCIENCE?
 Define concept of theory, positivism, interpretivists,
science, macro vs micro theories, empirical, objective,
cumulative, quantitative, qualitative, natural vs social
science, valid, reliable
 Identify and describe the tenets of the main theories
Objectives  Discuss the steps of scientific enquiry in the context of
sociology being a science
 Evaluate Durkheim’s study of Suicide and Weber’s
Protestant Ethic as scientific works
 Evaluate the topic Is Sociology a Science via a debate
 A set of statements that seek to explain in a
logical and systematic manner, social processes.
What is a  A set of ideas that claim to explain how
theory? something works(Haralambos 2008)
 A framework that can be used to think about
what is going on around us. (Ferrante 2003)
 A body of knowledge that helps to explain how aspects
of society work!
 A set of principles and definitions that tell how societies
operate and how people in them relate to one another
and respond to the environment.
What is a
 There are 4 main sociological theories – functionalism,
sociological Marxism, interactionism and feminism.
theory  Each theory or perspective has a particular way of
viewing society or the social world
 Therefore each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
 Nevertheless, each has contributed to this body of
knowledge that helps to explain how the society works!
 Macro theory: examines society as a whole system showing
the relationship between the structures.

 Micro theory: emphasizes and examines social groups &/or


individuals, most times focusing on the interaction between
Types of the two…looking at the meanings behind the behaviours and
actions of those groups.
Theories
 Systems theory: examines how society functions as a system
and how its parts relate to each other.
 Modern and post-modern: they build on the classic or
foundation theories.
 Consensus theory/ Functionalism: Macro and
Systems theory

 Conflict theory: Macro and systems theory


Sociological
Theories
 Social action theory: Micro theory

 Feminism: Macro and Post-modern


 Functionalism and Marxism are considered macro
structural theories because they focus on how the
structures of society(institutions) influence how people
behave and also how the structures fit together. They
however provide different models as to how the society
Macro vs works.
 Interactionism is considered micro because they focus
Micro Theories on small scale interaction.
 Feminism is macro and modern as it builds on the tenets
of Marxism but explains the social world from the
perspective of women. They therefore provide an
alternative view to ‘malestream’ sociology.
 Is sociology a science?
 Can the focus of sociology be studied
in the same manner as the natural
The sciences?
Sociological  What is the focus?
Debate  On what grounds then can we
classify sociology as a science?
 Science involves facts, observed phenomena and explanations.

 Scientific knowledge is based on 4 principles


- it is empirical (can be measured based on observation or experiment)
What is
Science - it is theoretical (produces theories from the data collected)
- it is cumulative (builds on or supplements what is already known)
- it is objective (value free! based on methodology)

• Sociologists are very systematic in the way ‘they collect data that are valid,
reliable and dependable…and the procedures utilized in one research project
must be replicable, repeatable or verifiable, if sociological knowledge is to
stand the test of time…’ (Mustapha 2013)
Positivists
Arguments
Interpretivists
 The belief that the social world can be studied using
scientific principles.
 Concept developed by Auguste Comte who believed that
if sociology were to follow the rules and logic of scientific
methodology (observation and experimentation), it could
discover the laws that underlie the development of the
human society.
Positivism  Hence the principle of social static (how social order is
achieved) and social dynamic ( how society experiences
change)
 Progress of society – theological, metaphysical and
positivism
 Emphasis on quantitative research methodology
 Other proponents – Durkheim
 The social world is not rigid or fixed…It is dynamic,
and complex
 Weber believed human beings ere not objects but are
influenced by emotions and feelings that cannot be
measured in the same way as the natural sciences.
 Giddens (1986) believes that societies are created and
recreated by our own human actions
Interpretivism  We are not passive human beings being shaped by the
institutions of the society eg family.
 Social activity is not a set of mechanical events
determined by natural laws.
 Emphasis on qualitative research methodology.
 To study the human behaviour emphasis should be on
culture and lived experiences of individuals.
Other  Karl Popper
Arguments  Thomas Kuhn
Your thoughts?…let’s debate!
Is Sociology
……Be it resolved that the application of a scientific model to the
a Science? study of society is not only necessary but it is the only way to
effectively glimpse reality'

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