Problems Faced by Sociology as a Science and How They Can Be Alleviated
THE UNIVERSTY OF ZAMBIA SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES.
SOCIOLOGY
NAME : EMMANUEL WINA MUSHALA
COMPTER NUMBER : 11067080
COURSE CODE : S 111
LECTURER : MR. MATAA MWIYA
TUTORIAL : MONDAY 14 – 13 HOURS.
DUE DATE : FRIDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2011.
ASSIGNMENT : ONE
QUESTION : WITH EXAMPLES, CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SOCIOLOGY AS A SCIENCE AND INDICATE HOW SUCH PROBLEMS CAN BE REDUCED OR ALLEVIATED.
This essay is aimed at critically discussing the problems faced by sociology as a science and indicating how such problems can be reduced or alleviated. In order to answer the question at hand, the definitions of sociology, science and alleviate will be provided. Then the essay will then turn its attention to the difficulties faced by sociology, there after ways of alleviating the problems will follow and the conclusion will sum up the discussion.
Sociology is the scientific study of human social relations or group life. (Encarta Microsoft Student, 2009). Northrope (1955), defined sociology as a science that studies human societies and social behaviour. According to Giddens (2006), sociology can be defined as the systematic study of human societies, giving special emphasis to modern, industrialized systems. From the above citations, it can be observed that sociology studies human behaviour in society.
According to Giddens (2006:78), Science is the use of systematic methods of empirical investigation, the analysis of data, theoretical thinking and logical assessment of arguments to develop a body of knowledge about a particular subject matter.
Encarta dictionary, (2009) defines science as a systematically organized body of knowledge about a particular subject. It is also defined as an activity that is the object of careful study or that is carried out according to a developed method. According to Gopal, (2003), a science is a body of knowledge about natural world and method of
SOCIOLOGY
NAME : EMMANUEL WINA MUSHALA
COMPTER NUMBER : 11067080
COURSE CODE : S 111
LECTURER : MR. MATAA MWIYA
TUTORIAL : MONDAY 14 – 13 HOURS.
DUE DATE : FRIDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2011.
ASSIGNMENT : ONE
QUESTION : WITH EXAMPLES, CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SOCIOLOGY AS A SCIENCE AND INDICATE HOW SUCH PROBLEMS CAN BE REDUCED OR ALLEVIATED.
This essay is aimed at critically discussing the problems faced by sociology as a science and indicating how such problems can be reduced or alleviated. In order to answer the question at hand, the definitions of sociology, science and alleviate will be provided. Then the essay will then turn its attention to the difficulties faced by sociology, there after ways of alleviating the problems will follow and the conclusion will sum up the discussion.
Sociology is the scientific study of human social relations or group life. (Encarta Microsoft Student, 2009). Northrope (1955), defined sociology as a science that studies human societies and social behaviour. According to Giddens (2006), sociology can be defined as the systematic study of human societies, giving special emphasis to modern, industrialized systems. From the above citations, it can be observed that sociology studies human behaviour in society.
According to Giddens (2006:78), Science is the use of systematic methods of empirical investigation, the analysis of data, theoretical thinking and logical assessment of arguments to develop a body of knowledge about a particular subject matter.
Encarta dictionary, (2009) defines science as a systematically organized body of knowledge about a particular subject. It is also defined as an activity that is the object of careful study or that is carried out according to a developed method. According to Gopal, (2003), a science is a body of knowledge about natural world and method of
Bibliography: A. Giddens, Sociology 6th Edition, (2006), Wiley, New Delhi, India. B.N. Ghosh, Scientific Method and Social Research, 3rd Edition, (2004), Sterling Publishers, New Delhi. Cohen and Nagel, An Introduction to Logic and Scientific Method, (1968), Allied Publishers, London F.S.G. Northrope, The Logic of the Sciences and Humanities, (1955), Free Press, New York M.H. Gopal, An Introduction to Research Procedure in Social Sciences, 2nd Edition, (2003), New York. P.V. Young, Scientific Social Surveys and Research, (1975), Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi. Internet Sources Encarta Microsoft Student, (2009) Social Science Information Gateway http//www.sosig.ac.uk/sociology