Sociology as a Science

Lesson objectives Pages 190 to 195 in the Webb et al textbook 2 What is science? State the characteristics of science (AO1) What are the benefits of Sociology being a science? (AO1 and AO2) Evaluate the competing arguments as to whether Sociology can be a science! (AO1, AO2 and AO3) Pages 190 to 195 in the Webb et al textbook 2 Remember – this links to the earlier work we have done on POETS, Positivism, Durkheim’s Suicide study and Interpretivism

What are the advantages of Sociology being a science? Improve the status of the subject Attract more funding It would have an effect on the identity of the subject And how sociologists conduct their research

The Positivism/Interpretivism debate includes other view points… Popper Kuhn Sayer

Popper It is desirable for Sociology to be a science But he says sociological theories are unscientific because they cannot be falsified E.g. Marxism can’t be falsified as it fails to specify exactly when a proletarian revolution will take place A revolution may still take place! It could become scientific but must follow a set of methodological procedures

Popper – deductive approach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztmvtKLuR7I Scientists cannot always deliver the final truth, as the possibility of falsification always exists You should be able to falsify theories – prove they are wrong Scientists should do their utmost to disprove theories (falsify them) Theories that survive falsification are not necessarily true ‘all swans are white’ – is a scientific statement as it can be falsified However, even though many times it is confirmed by observation, it cannot be accepted as true because the very next swan might be black! In this respect there are no absolute truths in science.

Popper Sociology therefore cannot be a science until it removes its value-bias from its theories – at which point much of sociology would not exist. Popper still values Sociology in that it helps to formulate new ideas and theories to explore. He suggests that Sociology has more un-testable theories than science simply because it hasn’t been around as a discipline as long. Using page 191 – 192, make notes on: The fallacy of induction Falsification Truth Implications for Sociology

Kuhn – paradigms Sciences are based on sets of assumptions called paradigms – they are agreed on by scientists Sometimes these paradigms change – they are called paradigm shifts The world is flat the world is round Sociology cannot be a science as it does not have a single paradigm There are different views (e.g. Fem, Marx, Func) Maybe sociology is pre-paradigmatic – it could become a science if sociologists agreed upon a perspective This does seem highly unlikely

What do you see?

Kuhn – paradigm shifts He used the duck-rabbit optical illusion to demonstrate the way in which a paradigm shift can cause people to see the same information in an entirely different way

Realist view of science - Sayer A social science is possible Sciences like physics and chemistry operate in closed systems where variables can be controlled Meteorology is a science that operates in an open system – e.g. as a result it is difficult to predict the weather accurately Human behaviour operates in an open system – not possible to predict what will happen No way of controlling the variables Realists think this is a social science – we can explain human behaviour in terms of structures – just like meteorologists can explain behaviour in the natural world

Criticising Science! Why would we want to be a science any way?!

Extra things for top marks…!! Feminist view of science Would they like Sociology to be a science?!

Postmodernism and science For A/B essay answers! Postmodernists reject the view that science produces absolute truths Should use a range of research techniques Scientific knowledge is not objective – it is subjective as it represents the views of the most powerful in society

Billing (1998): Sociology limits itself by trying to be Scientific Why strive to be ‘Scientific’ – It limits the Researcher….. Billing (1998): Sociology limits itself by trying to be Scientific If knowledge is to develop & grow then it is important to embrace many different ‘knowledge paradigms’ instead of trying to be purely scientific e.g. Science with Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, History etc…. Wright-Mills (1959): The Sociological Imagination C. Wright-Mills advocated what he called ‘the Sociological Imagination’. In this view it is important to have a creative and open mind towards research and not limit oneself to only one source of knowledge. Bauman (2000): Liquid Modernity Bauman follows this trail of thought by suggesting that in the post-modern (or liquid modern) era, every knowledge system is worth investing in. Old, restrictive structure of the past have broken down knowledge has become free. We are no longer tied down to science.

‘Sociology is not, cannot be, and should not be a science’ To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view? (20 marks)