SOCIOLOGY: IS IT SCIENCE OR ART:

There is a great controversy about the nature of sociology as a science. Some critics deny sociology to be claimed as science while other argues that it is a science. Before explaining whether “sociology” is a science or not it would be proper to know the meaning of science. Science is a systematized body of knowledge concerning cause and effect of a particular phenomenon. Science refers to logical and systematic methods of which knowledge of the universe is obtained and to the actual body of knowledge produced by these methods.

The sciences are conventionally divided into two parts – Natural sciences and Social sciences. Natural science deals with the physical and biological phenomenon and the social science studies various aspects of human behaviour. There is important difference between two.
Sociology is social science. Now the question arises what constitute natural science and if at all sociology should be called natural science then what those grounds are?

To support sociology is a science we give following points:

1) A sociologist is bound to be methodological and systematic in his approach. His question need to be clear, precise. The questions are to be specific and not ambiguous.

2) Data which sociologist collect are best suited for future predictions.

3) Data collected by sociologist are based on observations and they are classified in letter stages of research.

4) Carefully concluded results of a sociologist have universal application. These results can be tested under all circumstances and at all times.

5) Relationship between cause and effect is fully and well recognized in the study of sociology. The only difference is that sociological concepts cannot be tested in the lab as done in case of physical sciences because they deal with human behaviour which changes from time to time.

RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIOLOGY WITH OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES:

Sociology and Economics

Economics study the vital process of a country. It deals with both micro and macro aspects. The vital process is production, distribution and exchange of goods and services. It also examines how prices are determined or what affects prices will have on the consumption and production pattern of economy. The basic similarity between the two is that both deal with problems of human beings which have common nature.

Sociology and Political science

The study of political science covers two broad areas. These are political philosophy and actual forms of government

with special emphasis on how they are two related. In recent years, this discipline of knowledge has been strongly influenced by political sociology. Political sociology involves the social interaction in the process of government. Political scientist is now asking more and more sociological questions and masses. These questions are why people vote the way they do, why some people are more likely to take part in politics than others, or what happens ‘’behind the scenes ‘’, in the informal manipulation of power. Sociological research is also being apply used for shaping the government.   A politician cannot win the public opinion till he does not understand people’s sociological problems.

Sociology & Psychology

Psychology studies mental and human process such as emotion, Memory, Wideness and intelligence. It finds its roots in natural sciences such as biology. Sociology is interrelated to psychology. Psychology shares with major field of interest with sociology – social psychology, the study which explains how personality and behaviour are influenced by social context. According to Robert Morrison MacIver

 " Sociology is a special aid of psychology because between the two what we find common is that both the sciences deal with study of human beings. Not only that, without understanding a person’s mind psychologically, it is difficult to understand his social behaviour "

Sociology & Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of mankind. It studies man with regard to his origin, nature, races, customs and other developments. We can state that it is the sister discipline of sociology. A sociologist always wants ethnographic evidences (cultural evidences) when he compares the cultural aspects of one society with the other. sociologist and cultural anthropologist draw many things from each other’s work.

Sociology & Geography

Geography studies weather and environmental conditions of the world in general and countries in particular. The differences between sociology and geography exits as (a) geographical, climate and environmental conditions do change whereas sociologist improves upon social and environmental conditions in which human beings live. (b) changes in society are not affected by its geographical boundaries. Regarding similarities both sociology and geography affect the social life of man living in a society, besides this, sociologist has to take into account geographical conditions as these effect men’s ways of life.