The status of sociology as a science can be justified on the following grounds:
1. Sociology Employs Scientific Method:
The scientific method is a procedure used in seeking knowledge on the basis of certain assumptions.
All the methods used in sociology are scientific in nature. Sociology makes use of scientific methods in the study of its subject matter. Sociology employs techniques which apply quantitative measurements to social phenomenon and which are therefore comparable to the methods of experimentation.
The techniques and methodology used by sociologists may differ from those of physical sciences, but they adopt the same scientific methods to systematise knowledge. There are several steps in scientific method in sociology such as formulation of problem of study, collection of data, classification and tabulation of data, testing of hypothesis and generalisation etc.
2. Sociology is Factual:
Sociology studies social relationships and activities. Its general problem is a description of the social process. In this way, sociology makes a scientific study of facts and the general principles involved in them. Comte went to the extent of describing it as social physics.
3. The principles of Sociology are Universal:
The laws of sociology prove true at all times and places. As long as the conditions do not vary, the laws are devoid of any exceptions. For example, the principle that individual disorganisation and social disorganisation depend upon each other is true in all times and at all places.
4. Sociological Principles are Verifiable:
The laws of sociology can be verified at any time. For example, we- arrive at the conclusion that illiteracy is the cause of criminality among the people. Now this statement would be regarded as scientific fact only when we can verify from our own observation that the ratio of criminals among the literate is smaller than among the illiterates.
5. Sociology Delineates Cause-effect Relationships:
Sociology has discovered a cause-effect relation between the social phenomena. To take an example, one can consider the law that on increase in the number of divorce indicates acceleration of family disorganisation. In this case, divorce is a cause and family disorganisation one of its effect. Similarly, illiteracy may be a cause of criminality among people.
6. Sociology can make Predictions:
On the basis of cause-effect relationships sociology can anticipate the future and make predictions concerning social relationships, activities, incidents etc. If disorganisation in the families becomes pronounced, it can make predictions concerning the number of divorce, illicit relationships and many other things. Sociology frames laws and attempts to predict.
It is clearly evident from the above description that sociology is a science. Sociologists think in terms of abstractions. And scientific study is possible only through abstract forms. The laws of these abstract forms determine the reactions of concrete objects. In this way the laws of sociology are effectively universal and subject to verification.