Running head: DISCUSS THE NOTION

DISCUSS THE NOTION SOCIOLOGY IS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE. IS THERE A

PLACE FOR COMMON SENSE KNOWLEDGE IN THE SOCIOLOGICAL DISCOURSE?

By

David Cole, Esther Inniss, Dellon Murray, Carol Nageer

A paper submitted
in partial fulfillment
for the Degree of Bachelors
at University of Guyana
November 16, 2012

DISCUSS THE NOTION

In discussing the notion of sociology as a scientific discipline, this paper will first define the key
terms of sociology and scientific discipline, followed by a synopsis of the general rationale
behind viewing sociology as a scientific discipline as well as specific positions held by various
traditional categories of theorists and groups of sociologists. The final section will then address
the place of common sense in the sociological discourse.
Key terms
Sociology in its broadest sense has a lot of definitions. Sociology is the study of human behavior
in society (Anderson & Taylor 2004). According to A.Thio (1994), sociology is a scientific
study of human society and interaction. Therefore a refined definition of sociology can be a
scientific study of human behavior in society; but what exactly science is one may ask. Tichler
(2002), says that science is a body of systematically arranged knowledge that shows the
operation of general laws. On the other hand, Giddens (1986) defined science as the use of
systematic ally method of research and investigation and the logical analysis of argument in
order to develop an understanding of a particular subject matter.
Sociology as a scientific discipline
However, when conducting social sciences research there are some systematic steps which are
needed to be followed. There must be a careful selection of topic to be studied. A careful
formulation of your hypothesis or objectives is necessary. Write a literature review, this must
give the reader a general idea of the topic chosen. You must outline your data collection
procedures. Then present your data analysis and presentation and finally state your findings and
give a conclusion.
Sociology has characteristics of scientific research

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Sociology also possesses characteristics that allow it to be identified as a science. These
characteristics are also found in all branches of science. Theses characteristic are features which
are used to identify a scientific research from mere speculation or common sense. Some
characteristics of a science are empirical, theroretical, cumulative, objective and value-free.
Empirical- this is knowledge based on solid evidence that has been obtain from objective and
systematic research and not speculation. Theoretical- this is used to formulate theories, which are
model that attempt to explain various social phenomenon. For example from Durkheims
research on suicide, the four types of suicide found. Cumulative- builds upon efforts of
predecessors. For example: Auguste Comte (1798-1857) first developed idea sociology and
advocated the use of positivism in studying social science. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) also
followed Comtes example. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) later stated that society is made up of
interrelated and independent parts, which he termed organic analogy. Talcott Parsons (19021979) built on Durkheims work on organic analogy and founded the functional prerequisites of
society. Robert Merton (1910-2003) refined Parsons theory and found the latent and manifest
functions in society. Objective- the researcher is disengaged or unattached emotionally when
conducting the research, thus the information obtained is unbiased, that is the values and
preferences the researcher is not reflected in it. And finally, it should be value free- the
researcher should discover and report the truth of the social issue and not offer moral opinion on
social life.
Various specific positions of sociologists on the notion
Notwithstanding the general view that the notion of sociology as a scientific discipline, specific
positions vary depending on how the relationship between science and sociology is viewed by

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sociologists. What follows is a brief excursion into the positions of various theorists and groups
of sociologists on the role of science in sociology drawing mainly from Haralambos & Holborns
(2004) delineation of the two broad traditions within sociology: sociologists who advocated use
of scientific and usually quantitative methods and sociologist who supported the use of more
humanistic and qualitative method.
Positivists: Yes, sociology is a scientific discipline.
Positivism and their adherents positivists advocate the adoption of the methods of the natural
sciences in sociology in particular the utilization of quantitative methods. The essential rationale
behind the positivists scientific approach is that the established and mainly inductive methods
and procedures of science can be applied to the social sciences, ultimately to discover laws of
human behavior. These laws of human behavior can be discovered in turn by the collection of
objective facts about the social world in statistical form, careful analysis of these social facts
(looking for causation, correlation) and repeated checking of the findings in a series of contexts.
However, it is important to note that even with the common view of positivism that society can
be studied scientifically, there are differences in the ways positivist carry out their research. For
example, Auguste Comte (1798-1857) and Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) differed on what are
and which social facts can be observed. Comte was not concerned about mental states existing in
consciousness of persons - internal meanings, motives, emotions of individuals since he felt they
cannot be observed and measured objectively. For Durkheim, social facts included belief
systems, customs, and institutions of society and should be considered in the same way as
observable objects and events of the natural world. Karl Popper, who agreed that it is highly
desirable for sociology to be scientific, advocated the use of the deductive approach (start with a

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theory and test it against the evidence) as opposed to the inductive methodology (analyze the
data, develop theory) of positivism. Popper, while believing along with positivists that sociology
in essence becomes scientific based on following a particular set of methodological procedures,
disagreed with positivists that laws whether of natural science or human behavior can be
permanently true for all time. Those laws and theories are only true until proven false in other
words since there is the possibility that a theory can be falsified science cannot deliver a final,
irrefutable truth.
Overall, the use of scientific methods in describing social facts are seen as highly desirable by
positivists.
Interpretive Sociologists: Scientific approaches in sociology need to be supplemented or
replaced.
Interpretive sociologists positions range from using interpretative or qualitative approaches to
supplement the scientific approach (Max Weber, Symbolic Interactionists) to using interpretative
approaches to replace scientific approaches (Phenomenologist). While positivists tend to be
critical of sociologists who study subjective and unobservable mental states, interpretive
sociologists claim that scientific approaches to sociology are inadequate on their own or totally
inappropriate in a field that deals with human behavior and as such some reject the use of natural
science methodology for the study of social action.
The essential rationale for the interpretive approach to sociology as a scientific discipline is
rooted in their view that the subject matter of the natural and social sciences are differentphysical matter as opposed to consciousness and as such requires the use of more humanistic
and qualitative methods in sociology.

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It can be argued that in spite of the symbolic interactionists insistence on supplementing the
positivists quantitative methodology with the use of a more appropriate methodology (i.e.
interpretive qualitative methods) to arrive at casual explanations of human behavior, sociology is
still viewed as a scientific discipline, albeit with limitations and constraints.
Phenomenologist, another group of interpretive sociologists, however represents the most radical
departure from the positivist scientific as well as the interactionist approaches. They reject the
possibility of producing casual explanations of human behavior, of objectively measuring and
classifying the world and as such tend to concentrate almost exclusively on the subjective aspects
of social life which are all internal to the consciousness of the individual. As such,
phenomenologist rejects the view that natural sciences methodology is appropriate to sociology
or even that laws of human behavior can be found.

Common sense in the sociological discourse

Is there a place for common sense knowledge is the sociological discourse? The answer will be
implied when examining the sociological view of commonsense knowledge and its role in the
different sociological perspectives. According to Marshalls Dictionary of Sociology (1998),
common sense knowledge refers to unsurprisingly routine knowledge we have of our everyday
world and activities. The sociological approaches adopt commonsense knowledge differently.
For example, Emile Durkheim, a well know positivist took a more stringent view to this
knowledge stating that, sociology must break from commonsense perceptions (prejudices),
before we can produce scientific knowledge of the social world and Marists viewed
commonsense knowledge as ideological, or at least very limited in its understanding of the
world, A Dictionary of Sociology (Gordon Marshall 1998). Durkheim and Marx advocated the

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objectivity only approach in the accumulation of social data. In contrast, Gordon Marshall
quoted German sociologist Max Weber as disagreeing with the objective evidence only
position of Durkheim. He argued that sociologists must also consider people's interpretations of
eventsnot just the events themselves. Weber believed that individuals' behaviors cannot exist
apart from their interpretations of the meaning of their own behaviors, and that people tend to act
according to these interpretations. Because of the ties between objective behavior and subjective
interpretation, Weber believed that sociologists must inquire into people's thoughts, feelings, and
perceptions regarding their own behaviors. Weber recommended that sociologists adopt his
method of Verstehen, or empathetic understanding. Verstehen allows sociologists to mentally put
themselves into the other person's shoes and thus obtain an interpretive understanding of the
meanings of individuals' behaviors. Durkheim and Marx sees commonsense knowledge as
subjective while on the other hand Weber sees this knowledge necessary in understanding
social phenomena, (Cliffnotes, 2009, Para. 9)

However, all research of social phenomena started with commonsense knowledge or at the
deductive stage, drawing a general idea to begin with which is referred to as the hypothesis. The
hypothesis gives direction to the topic of research. A hypothesis in researching the impact of
friends could very well be, the life style of a member of a circular of friends reflects the groups
life style, this hypothesis is similar to the well knew statement Show me your friends and Ill
tell you who you are. Can this statement be measured to produce the affirmative? The inductive
stage of the research may produce a more specific thesis which may be, persons raised in
disruptive households are more likely to be negatively influenced by the peers. The discipline
of sociology science is concerned with that knowledge derived from accurate methodology
applied to garner knowledge and if that knowledge can stand up to scrutiny while reducing the

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same result over and over again. Though simple knowledge may be considered common sense
it may not be common and sensible as perceived. Positivist accepts the use of commonsense
only at the hypothetico-deductive model in social science while for symbolic interactionists and
interpretive sociologists, there is a less rigorous analysis of commonsense knowledge, but the
central aim of sociology is seen as explicating and elaborating on peoples conceptions of the
social world, and sociological analysis always be rooted in these conceptions.

Furthermore, the concept of commonsense knowledge has been used to develop theories in the
sociological discourse. Central to Alfred Schutzs phenomenological sociology, it referred to
organized typified stock of taken-for-granted knowledge, upon which our activities are based,
and which, in the natural attitude, we do not question. This idea forms the basis of Peter Berger
and Thomas Luckmanns general theory of society ( or, as it is frequently termed, tacit)
knowledge is a constant achievement, in which people draw on implicit rules of how to carry
on, which produce a sense of organization and coherence ,A Dictionary of Sociology
(Marshall, 1998) . Anthony Giddings builds this idea into his theory of structuration (The
constitution of Society, 1984, www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/GSSW/Giddings.pdf-2009-07-28).

Different sociological approaches adopt different to commonsense knowledge. The concept is

for symbolic interactionists and interpretive sociologists, there is a less rigorous analysis of
commonsense knowledge, but the central aim of sociology is seen as explicating and elaborating
on peoples conceptions of the social world, and sociological analysis always be rooted in these
conceptions.

However, some sociologist regards commonsense knowledge as different from, if not opposed
to, sociological understanding. These approaches tend to emphasize the scientific nature of

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sociology and in the case of Marxists, the importance of the revolutionary party to organized and
guide the working class.

Conclusion
It has been shown from the foregoing discussion about sociology as a scientific discipline and
common sense knowledge in sociology, that in the first instance, sociology is generally seen as a
scientific discipline due to its systematic methods and scientific characteristics. Notwithstanding
that it was also noted that within the broad traditions in sociology, there are variations on the
views to the extent scientific methods can be utilized in studying human behavior. Secondly, it
was shown that common sense knowledge has a place in the sociology albeit a limited one.

References

DISCUSS THE NOTION

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