“Science is not “what you study” but is “how you study”. Explain in the context of sociology as scientific discipline.
Answer:
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena.
When conducting research, scientists use the scientific method to collect measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment related to a hypothesis (often in the form of an if/then statement), the results aiming to support or contradict a theory.
Therefore, science extends beyond its subject, and is more concerned about the methodology. Therefore, science is not ‘what you study’ but is ‘how you study’. The differentiating factor in terming a particular discipline as science or not scientific is the methodology being followed to study it.
Sociology also focuses on the methodology being followed. Durkheim is the most important person in sociology who focused on establishing sociology as a scientific discipline by focusing on methodology. His emphasis on social facts and defining sociology as the study of social facts is the cornerstone of sociology as a science. His study of suicide uses a rigorous scientific methodology.
Sociology also focuses on using a vigorous methodology. The problem is clearly stated, the methodology of data collection is specified, and the hypothesis is proved or disproved accordingly. The components which make sociology a science is (or focus of sociology on scientific method can be seen from):
- It doesn’t rely on common sense. It doesn’t take assumptions for granted.
- It focuses on evidence being observable. This can be seen in Durkheim’s stress on social facts
- Any study of society should specify the methods the researcher used to obtain his or her information,
the setting (where the researcher conducted the study), and the population (whom they studied). This
is done so that other social scientists may test your findings. Social scientists are cautious in
accepting the findings of other. Studies are often replicated to verify findings of initial studies.
- Sociology emphasized on theory building, and Merton was a strong proponent of this.
- To be considered meaningful, a hypothesis must be testable, and capable of being evaluated.
Sociology has been focusing on this aspect of hypothesis as well, with Parsons being a proponent of this.
Therefore, sociology is a science every bit as biology or chemistry is. Its strong rigour on methodology makes it a science.
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