Q. What is science? Do you think that the methods used in natural sciences can be applied to sociology? Give reasons for your answer.

Model Answer:

Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge through testable explanations and predictions about the universe, based on empirical evidence. The applicability of scientific methods to sociology remains a foundational debate, dividing sociologists into positivist and interpretivist camps.

The Positivist Argument

Early sociologists, influenced by the Enlightenment, advocated for scientific sociology:

• Auguste Comte envisioned a “social physics” to discover immutable laws governing society, similar to natural sciences
• Emile Durkheim advanced this tradition by treating social facts as “things”—external and coercive to individuals
• His work Suicide demonstrated scientific methodology by using statistical data to establish correlations between suicide rates and social integration levels, proving that seemingly individual acts have social causes
• This approach employs quantitative methods—surveys, experiments, statistical analysis—ensuring objectivity, causality, and generalizability

The Interpretivist Critique

Anti-positivists argue that sociology’s subject matter fundamentally differs from natural sciences:

• Max Weber contended that humans possess consciousness and attach subjective meanings to actions, requiring Verstehen (empathetic understanding) rather than mere observation
• To understand religious rituals, one must grasp participants’ meanings, not just external forms
• George Herbert Mead emphasized that social reality emerges through symbolic interaction

Key Limitations of Natural Science Methods:

• Subjectivity: Social phenomena contain values and meanings that resist objective measurement
• Reactivity: Subjects modify behavior when observed (Hawthorne effect)
• Complexity: Human behavior lacks deterministic laws, making prediction difficult
• Context-dependency: Cultural variations prevent universal law formulation

Contemporary Approach: Methodological Pluralism

Modern sociology embraces both approaches. Quantitative methods reveal patterns and correlations in social structures, while qualitative methods (ethnography, in-depth interviews) capture meanings and processes. For instance, studying poverty requires statistical income data alongside understanding lived experiences of deprivation.

Conclusion: While rigid application of natural science methods faces limitations due to human consciousness and agency, sociology maintains scientific rigor through systematic empirical investigation. Methodological pluralism enables comprehensive understanding of social phenomena.