scienvce

• Interpretivists


  Reject the view that sociology is a science due to the lack of realism in scientific experiments
• Science experiments


  • Typically conducted in artificial settings such as laboratories
  • Lack generalisation to conditions outside of the lab setting
  • May be subject to the Hawthorne effect, whereby participants alter their behaviour as they are aware their behaviours are being studied
• Weber's view


  We should study human behaviours in terms of the meaning they attach to their actions
• Interpretivist view


  Understanding the subjective meanings attached to behaviours is better as people in society differ, and there is no universal meaning of human behaviour
• Verstehen


  To fully understand one's point of view, we must view life from their eyes or in other words put ourselves into other people's shoes
• Interpretivist approach


  • Qualitative
  • Higher level of validity is more likely to come about, as researchers gain more in-depth material about what they are investigating so we can trust the results gathered from a study
• Popper's view


  For a theory to be scientific, we must attempt to prove it as wrong (falsify it)
• For sociology to be accepted as a science via falsification, then sociological theories would have to propose a testable hypothesis (every theory/statement outlined must be testable)
• The Marxist concept of false class consciousness is rejected as it cannot be tested and thus, cannot be falsified
• Popper's theory


  We should use a deductive method, meaning that we start with a theory and test evidence against it, if none of the evidence put forth contradicts the existing theory, the theory would then be accepted as a science
• Positivist view


  An inductive method should be used, whereby we examine data and build a theory on the basis of this, and finally defend the theory with evidence that strengthens it
• By providing evidence in support of a theory we will never know if any other knowledge strays away from it, Popper argues, that truth is only temporary, and knowledge is changeable
• Paradigm shift


  If there is overwhelming evidence which contradicts the pre-existing paradigm, a paradigm shift takes place
• If paradigm shifts are accurate, then objectivity, as suggested by positivists, are undermined, thus contradicting the statement that sociology can be a science