Sociology is a Science

• What do positivist sociologists believe about objective facts?

  They can be established through scientific methods
• What is the role of empirical evidence in positivist sociology?

  It is collected and analyzed to establish facts
• What are the steps in the scientific method according to positivist sociologists?

  1. Identify a social problem or question
  2. Conduct research
  3. Formulate a hypothesis
  4. Use rigorous research methods
  5. Produce quantitative data
  6. Analyze data and publish conclusions
• Who are classic positivist sociologists mentioned in the text?

  Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim
• What was the purpose of Durkheim's study on suicide?

  To explain human behavior through sociology
• How did Durkheim test his hypothesis in his study on suicide?

  By examining various social variables
• What criticism did Durkheim's study face?

  Reliability of data and scientific rigor
• What did Karl Popper argue about positivist sociology?

  It used inductive rather than deductive reasoning
• What is the flaw in the inductive reasoning approach according to Popper?

  It seeks evidence to support hypotheses
• What does Popper mean by falsification?

  Proving a hypothesis untrue is essential
• What concepts in Durkheim's study were criticized for being difficult to measure?

  Social cohesion and social control
• Why is sociology considered unscientific by some?

  Many concepts cannot be quantified easily
• What is a common criticism of quantitative data in sociology?

  It may not capture complex phenomena