1. Name: __________________________ Date: ____________________________
A2 Review of All Things Science & Sociology Related
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
interpretations verifiable consciousness
science hypotheses controlled
meanings natural replicated
Task: Using the words listed above, complete the following list of criticisms made of positivism by
interpretive sociologists:
1.Sociology never can nor should try to be a __________.
2.Sociologists can rarely produce the kinds of __________________conditions for study such as
those of the scientist’s laboratory.
3.Research findings are not _______________________ by other sociologists as the research
situation can never be precisely ____________.
4.It is impossible to quantify human behaviour in the same way as ______________ phenomena.
5.Human beings have ________________ and may react to the researcher in different ways.
6.The ____________________ that people attach to events and actions are internal and cannot be
directly measured.
7.Human action depends on individual ________________.
8.The design of ______________ to test imposes the views of the researcher on what is discovered.
Section 2: Topic Questions
1)What does Durkheim mean by 'social facts'?
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2)Why do Positivists favour 'macro' or structural explanations of behaviour?
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2. Name: __________________________ Date: ____________________________
A2 Review of All Things Science & Sociology Related
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3)According to Interpretivists, what is the subject matter of sociology?
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4)What is meant by verstehen and why do Interpretivists favour its use?
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5)Explain the difference between verificationism & falsificationism.
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6)What does Kuhn mean by a 'paradigm'?
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7)Explain what Kuhn means when he says that in normal science, scientists engage in puzzle
solving.
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8)According to Realists, what is the difference between open and closed systems?
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3. Name: __________________________ Date: ____________________________
A2 Review of All Things Science & Sociology Related
Section 3: Research Activity
Task: In pairs, find out about two other theories that have been falsified and how this was done.
For example:
1. Investigate the theory of alchemy (turning base metal into gold).
2. Investigate the theory of the body ‘humours’ as the basis of
medicine.
Theory 1:
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Theory 2:
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4. Name: __________________________ Date: ____________________________
A2 Review of All Things Science & Sociology Related
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