Theory and Methods 20/20 full mark answer Sociology is a science
question 6.
Item C
Positivists argue that sociology can adopt the methods and logic
of the natural sciences such as physics and chemistry. In their
view, this will enable sociologists to discover the laws of cause
and effect that govern human behaviour.
However, interpretivists argue that our behaviour is based on
meanings that cannot be studied using scientific methods. Other
critics argue that the positivists’ view of the natural sciences is
incorrect.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view
that sociology can and should be a science (20)
There is an ongoing debate on whether sociology is a science and whether
it should be. Positivists, such as Durkheim and Marx argue that sociology
is scientific and this is enabled through using the scientific method,
researching social facts, using quantitative data and verificationism.
However, interactionists agree on this definition of science, but argue that
sociology is not and should not be scientific. Whereas, philosopher Popper
and Kuhn argue that it is not a science, but can be- but for different
reasons. However, postmodernists argue that it is not a science and
should not be because it is dangerous. Therefore, it seems that there is
must debate about this topic- each having its own strengths and
weaknesses.
The item states that “positivists argue that sociology can adopt the
method and logic of natural science”. Positivists argue that sociology can
and should be a science. They believe that sociology can research and
uncover social facts and solve social problems via using an objective,
quantitative approach to sociology via empiricism. For example, in
Functionalist Durkheim’s study of suicide he posed a hypothesis and used
the scientific method to uncover the “laws of cause and effect”, such as
the causal factors for suicide- which he concluded was anomie. Durkheim
used quantitative data- official statistics to uncover the causal factors of
suicide and to uncover the social facts about it. In addition, Marx believes
that sociology is scientific and in his study of Marxism, he uncovered the
way relationship between the cause-and-effect factors that lead to class
inequality. Positivists believe that it is possible to uncover social truths
about society and the way that humans behave via the scientific method.
However, this is criticised by the likes of postmodernists who reject the
idea of a monopoly of truths- there is no such thing as one single truth.
They argue that Functionalism and Marxism are just overarching meta-
narratives that claim to know the truth, however in a post-modern society
there is relativism and no one truth. Therefore, this is not a strong
