Sociology as a science - realism

Key difference between science and sociology

• Type of system

  • Sociology = open

  • Science = closed

3 reasons science is a closed system

1. Has observable structures that → effects that can be observed

2. Control over variables is high

3. Predictions are precise, e.g. lab experiments

2 reasons sociology is an open system

1. Variables are too complex and large-scale to measure and control

2. Predictions are not precise

Disagreement with positivism

• Doesn’t agree that science is only concerned with observable phenomena

  • E.g. black holes are unobservable yet can be observed by physicists

Is sociology a science?

• Yes

Why sociology is a science

• We observe unobservable phenomena like scientists and therefore can do this scientifically by observing their effects

  • Black holes = social class

    • E.g. we cannot observe social class/black holes but we can observe its effects on people/space

Way in which realists see Marxism as scientific

• Observes effects (e.g. poverty) of underlying systems (e.g. capitalism)

Way in which realists see interpretivism as scientific

• Interprets behaviour (effect) in terms of actors’ internal meanings (unobservable phenomenon)

2 realists

1. Keat

2. Urry