Perspective Overview-is sociology a science AO3
• Society can be science. Interpretivism-
• Reality exists outside the human mind. Sociology is
• E.g., nature such a rocks and plants and there whether we like it or not this can be related to social facts they are their about meaning
whether we like it or not. and action-
• Society has pattens that we can observe and find the cause for the effect. humans have a
• ‘Real laws are discoverable’ this is known as inductive reasoning’s; this involves accumulating data though observation. conscious unlike
Verification things that are
• Theories can be verified and then therefore discover ‘the truth’ in the form of the law. studies in
• Positivist believe all observations can be explained- finding the cause. science and
Positivism • E.g., falling object- the cause is gravity you can be related to school failure- the cause is material deprivation. therefore to
• This also means we can use observations to predict the future. understand
Objective, quantitative research them they need
to be
• Positivists use quantities data to measure pattens of behaviour.
interpreted
• Wanting to discover cause and effect.
which is done
• This should therefore be objective and detached.
using qualitive
• Fear of contamination of data though attachment they employ methods to ensure objectivity and detachment is maintained.
data and going a
• this method will give reliable data. deeper
Example: positivism and suicide (Durkheim) understanding
• he used quantitative data of official statistics to observe patterns in suicide. (verstehen)
• He found the cause of suicide integration and regulation which reflected the pattern.
• Durkheim views this as ‘real law’.
• Sociology is not a science. Positivism-
• Sociology should be about the meaning of social action. social facts exist
• Internal meanings regardless so
• Natural science has no conscious but when studying sociology, they do. therefore
• Therefore, meanings will be attached and are not straight forward. become a
Mead science which
• Human beings interpret the meaning of a stimuli ad choose how to respond. pattens is
Interpretivism • Choice is given and an action to a stimulus cannot be pre-determined only assumed. society should
• e.g., stopping at a red light be observed to
• therefore, a sociologist job is to uncover meanings. finer truth in
Verstehen and qualitative research the cause and
effect.
• to discover meanings, we need to see world from their viewpoint.
Positivism-
• this involves abandoning detachment and objectivity.
social facts exist
• Sociologists need to gain verstehen- an empathetic understanding.
regardless so
• Society can be science. Interpretivism-
• Reality exists outside the human mind. Sociology is
• E.g., nature such a rocks and plants and there whether we like it or not this can be related to social facts they are their about meaning
whether we like it or not. and action-
• Society has pattens that we can observe and find the cause for the effect. humans have a
• ‘Real laws are discoverable’ this is known as inductive reasoning’s; this involves accumulating data though observation. conscious unlike
Verification things that are
• Theories can be verified and then therefore discover ‘the truth’ in the form of the law. studies in
• Positivist believe all observations can be explained- finding the cause. science and
Positivism • E.g., falling object- the cause is gravity you can be related to school failure- the cause is material deprivation. therefore to
• This also means we can use observations to predict the future. understand
Objective, quantitative research them they need
to be
• Positivists use quantities data to measure pattens of behaviour.
interpreted
• Wanting to discover cause and effect.
which is done
• This should therefore be objective and detached.
using qualitive
• Fear of contamination of data though attachment they employ methods to ensure objectivity and detachment is maintained.
data and going a
• this method will give reliable data. deeper
Example: positivism and suicide (Durkheim) understanding
• he used quantitative data of official statistics to observe patterns in suicide. (verstehen)
• He found the cause of suicide integration and regulation which reflected the pattern.
• Durkheim views this as ‘real law’.
• Sociology is not a science. Positivism-
• Sociology should be about the meaning of social action. social facts exist
• Internal meanings regardless so
• Natural science has no conscious but when studying sociology, they do. therefore
• Therefore, meanings will be attached and are not straight forward. become a
Mead science which
• Human beings interpret the meaning of a stimuli ad choose how to respond. pattens is
Interpretivism • Choice is given and an action to a stimulus cannot be pre-determined only assumed. society should
• e.g., stopping at a red light be observed to
• therefore, a sociologist job is to uncover meanings. finer truth in
Verstehen and qualitative research the cause and
effect.
• to discover meanings, we need to see world from their viewpoint.
Positivism-
• this involves abandoning detachment and objectivity.
social facts exist
• Sociologists need to gain verstehen- an empathetic understanding.
regardless so
