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/sci/ - Science & Math

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1301972 No.1301972 [Reply] [Original]

Is sociology a real science?
Pic unrelated, it's a rat.

>> No.1301975

1/2 and 1/2

Sociology MA student here

>> No.1302003

To explain further, there are 2 branches: quantitative and qualitative. The former is statistic, surveys, etc. The latter is interviews, ethnographies, historical comparative.

Quantitative is the only thing you can use to make causal arguments.

Qualitative sheds light on the details, can be used to test the waters of a theory, or used as back up for a theory (adding meat to the math). Also it's good for investigating something too rare or inaccesible to do stats on.

>> No.1302054

No.

There's are no units of measurement, or natural laws to be based on. It's all a bunch of rhetoric to me <.<

>> No.1302066
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1302066

>>1301972
It is about as much of a science as psychology is.
No.

>> No.1302070

>>1302054
And how much of it have you taken? There are measures, but yes they are less well defined than a "kilometer". That's why we have Cronbach's alpha reliability tests.

>> No.1302076

>>1302070
Example please

>> No.1302089

>>1302076
Many of them are psychology related. Examples: self-esteem, religiousity, traditional sex-role views, confidence in american institutions, etc.

Check the GSS for a shit ton of measured variables.

Also, there are a few "absolutes", like race, gender, class, etc.

>> No.1302091

>>1302089
link to GSS
http://www.norc.org/GSS+Website/Browse+GSS+Variables/

>> No.1302097

>>1302089
so, are sex-role views measured in what unit?

>> No.1302098
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1302098

>>1301972
Is scientology a real science?
Pic unrelated, it's a dog.

>> No.1302104
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1302104

>>1302098

>> No.1302117

>>1302097
adherence to traditional sex-roles is measured by certain behaviors and beliefs. These are usually assessed with a Likert scale (which has issues, but that's what usually used).

In short, there are "latent variables" which we cannot measure directly and variables we can measure directly that we believe are related to that latent variable. We can test how well related they are using statistical tools for factor analysis (measuring eigenvalues etc). If these variables are highly correlated, especially over multiple measurements and large sample sizes, then we can say that they are measuring one latent variable and it is up to us to interpret what those measures are pointing to.

>> No.1302126

not saying that it is, not saying that it isn't but something to consider:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipd-lJ9rHDI

R.I.P. Richard Feynman

>> No.1302136

>>1302117

that's just rhetoric in a hidden form

>> No.1302151

>>1302136
And that's a dismissive statement without understanding

Explain yourself, or I'll have to write you off as another stuck up positivist who can't deign to look at a social science.

>> No.1302164

here's real scientific unit:

Force = (change in velocity times mass) / (change in time)
and you could even bread it down to lower dimentions

velocity = (change in distance) / (change in time)


there's a social science unit:
traditional sex-roles lol

>> No.1302170

>>1302164
Society isn't as clear-cut and a lot more complicated. I've heard a professor say social sciences have it tougher because of this.

>> No.1302171
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1302171

>>1302164

>> No.1302183

>>1302170
I think social science majors are a bunch of people who want to get a "professional" degree without really spending the time and work in finding things out...just so they could earn a lot of money once they could get out of college.

Yes, i am a suborn person, but it do want you to try and break me. I am more convinced on the logic if fundamental units of measurements...buy maybe you could break down traditional sex-roles into more distinct units...but i have never seen it done.

>> No.1302190

>>1302183
Earn a lot of money? Lol you haven't seen their pay scales have you?

There are basic concepts, but there are no "units of measurement". This isn't chemistry or physics. If you can't get over that, then there is little hope for you.

>> No.1302197

>>1302183
PS majors != grad students.

>> No.1302202

>>1302190

It seems like to me your admitting defeat?

>> No.1302208

>>1302197
I'm glad your smart, that really helped a lot.

>> No.1302209
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1302209

>>1302183
Because Social Sciences, are more colorful from the contraty black and white math "add this and subtract that".
Social Sciences rely on a great knowledge of history to understand the undertones of a nation, so you have to study philosophy, history, government, understand culture, psychology, and have a good understanding of many religions.
What do you need to know for say Physics?
1. Formulas that are given to you.
2. know how to type it into a calculator
3. Know how to copy your answer from the calculator onto a fucking paper.

REAL TOUGH SHIT.

In Social Sciences there are no calculators. There are just tons of fucking books where you have to understand the content very well, and the formulas aren't given to you.

>> No.1302217

>>1302209

Then get a picture book.

I'm happy with my Physics and Calculus book <3

>> No.1302224

>>1302209
Sociology MA fag here. Thank you for articulating what I couldn't.

>>1302202
Defeat? No, just tired of the asshattery on 4chan. I have a BS in mathematics, but I still think social sciences have something to offer.

>> No.1302230

>>1302217
calculus is easy compared to the theories talked about in social sciences.

And yes, I'd know. Calc is my favorite subject.

>> No.1302236
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1302236

>> No.1302241

>>1302209
Are you saying that physics is just plugging numbers into equations?
Really?

>> No.1302244

>>1302236
Lol applied psychology.
moar liek Sociology is the study of fucking groups.
As opposed to psychology focusing on individuals.

>> No.1302247

>>1302241
I see little difference between theoretical physics and social science. Just fitting theories to the facts.

>> No.1302253
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1302253

>>1302241
Applied math is physics, you fucking idiot

>> No.1302264

>>1302253
trol detected.

>> No.1302266
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1302266

>> No.1302272
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1302272

>>1302264
>>1302264
>>trol

>>implying physics isn't applied math

>> No.1302304

Physics is applied math... kind of the whole point of it.

>> No.1302325

>>1302304
physics is applied math means:
physics <span class="math">\subset[/spoiler] applied maths.

applied math is physics means:
applied math <span class="math">\subset[/spoiler] physics.

But there is applied math which isn't physics, so just stfu troll.

>> No.1302335

Hard science? No.
People are too complicated for that.
They try tho, oh do they try.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

>> No.1302339

>>1302325
wtf are u saying. physics is the application of mathematics in the physical world or you could say physics is a science that uses mathematics to explain occurrences in our world

>> No.1302343

>>1302339
He's trying to sound smart. Fool probably thinks we care about superstars in here.

>> No.1302347

>>1302339
>>1302343
butthurt detected

>> No.1302348

It is a science, technically. Like reading Cat in the Hat is technically reading.

>> No.1302357

>>1302347


No, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

>> No.1302436

>>1302348
see >>1302209

>> No.1302495

>>1302436
elaborate?