BA 1st Year Nature of Sociology Notes Study Material in English

BA 1st Year Nature of Sociology Notes Study Material in English: The nature of sociology is a science but besides the scientists like cart, Churchman and Ackoff, Gillin & Gillin, and many other sociologists accept science as a method. It differs from ‘Art’ only on account of the method. It is the method by which the different bodies of knowledge are called sciences despite a wide disparity of subject matter.

What is Science (is Sociology a Science?)

Sociology is a science because we can predict social phenomena. Before proceeding precipitately to elaborate upon this statement, it is necessary to know what is science. Some people look upon some specific subject matter as science e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Engineering etc. Common people base their distinction between Art’ and ‘Science’ on this meaning. Science would be advisable to consult the scientists themselves. Some definitions of science are given below

Definitions of Sociology

1. Biesanz & Biesanz, “It is approach rather than content that is the test of science.”
2. Green, “Science is a way of investigation.”
3. White,  Science is scenting.”
4. Karl Pearson, “The unity of all science consists in its method, not in its material.”
5. According to Giddings, Science is nothing more or less than getting at, facts, and trying to understand them, and what science does for us is nothing more nor less than helping us to face facts.”
6. Lundberg, “Science is a procedure for discovering the conditions under which events occur.”

Nature of Sociology Notes

Robert Biersted has in his book “The Social Order‘ mentioned the following characteristics of the nature of sociology:

• Sociology is a social and not a natural or physical science.
• Sociology is a categorical or Positive & not a Normative science.
• Sociology is a pure or Theoretical science and not an Applied Science.
• Sociology is an Abstract science and not a concrete one.
• Sociology is a Generalizing and not Particularizing science.
• Sociology is both a Rational and an Empirical science.

Scientific method in Sociology

In the scientific method, the subject matter in a limited sphere is symmetrically studied. This method needs great patience, courage, diligence, creative imagination and objectivity. Without this scientific attitude or spirit, no person can profit from the scientific method. This scientific method proceeds by way of the following steps:

Observation of Sociology

1. The first or initial step in the scientific method is a minute and careful observation of the subject matter of research.
2. Recording: The second step of the scientific method is a careful recording of all the data obtained in the observation. This necessitates unbiased objectivity.
3. Classification: Now the collected data have to be classified and organized. This is a serious step. According to Karl Pearson, “The classification of facts, the recognition of their sequence and relative significance is the function of science.” The classification is aimed to place the disintegrated facts into such relations that they exhibit a symmetrical pattern. In this way, the subject matter is systematically arranged on a logical basis.
4. Generalization: The fourth step in the scientific method is the extraction of general laws based on the pattern exhibited by the classified material, or briefly, generalization. This general law is known as scientific law.
   In the words of MacIver, “Such a law is simply another name for a carefully described and uniformly recurring sequence of condition.”
5. Verification: The fifth step of the scientific method is the verification of social phenomena. The general principles must also be verified. The validity of scientific principles can be ascertained by examination. This validity is their essential condition, in the absence of which they forfeit their claim to the title of scientific. laws.

Essential elements of Social Science

From the proceeding account of the scientific method. It would be evident that certain elements are essential scientific elements of science. These essential elements or characteristics of science are the following:

1. Discovery of cause-effect relationship: Science searches for the cause-effect relationship in its subject-matter, and in this connection provides universal and valid laws.
2. Scientific method: Scientific method is also an essential element of science. Without the scientific method, we cannot verify that any subject is science.
3. Factual: Factual is the essential element of science. In the process of generalization, we can find factuality in science.
4. Universal: Scientific principles are universal. They hold irrespective of the temporal and spatial order.
5. Veridical: Scientific laws are veridical. Its validity can be examined at any time. It may be tested any number of times. It will prove true in every case
6. Prediction: Science can make products based on universal and valid laws relating to the cause-effect relationship, in any subject. The scientist believes that what will happen can be predicted by basing this prediction upon what is, for the law of cause and effect is universal and inevitable.

Some Important Steps of the Scientific Method of Sociology

• Selection of a problem
• Formulation of Hypothesis
• Observation/Experimentation
• Testing, classification and analysis of data
• Generalization
• To Establish law/laws.

Allegations against the scientific nature of Sociology

• Complexity and Dynamic nature of social Phenomena
• Measurement of attitudes
• Laboratory According to Gillin and Gillin, ”  the laboratory method is only one general procedure of accurate observation.”
• Reliability of sociological conclusions and laws.
• The universality of sociological generalizations.

Bogardus has the following suggestion to make. Concerning the establishment of a laboratory for sociology:

• There should be typewriters, adding and calculating machines, etc.
• There should be special kinds of cupboards for the systematic storing of files.
• There should be a specific room for temperature.
• There should be a drawing table and drawing materials.
• There should be a specific research library.

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