University Sociology Essay: Sources of Knowledge and Their Valuation

This essay delves into the core of sociological inquiry, examining the sources of knowledge that are valued within the discipline. It begins by defining knowledge acquisition and highlighting the unique focus of sociology on understanding social structures and the interplay between agents and structures. The essay contrasts traditional, positivist approaches, which emphasize objective reality and empirical evidence, with interpretivist perspectives that prioritize subjective interpretations and the understanding of lived experiences. It argues that sociology values knowledge from diverse sources, including micro, macro, and meso levels, while also emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiry and the debunking of common-sense knowledge. References to key sociological thinkers like Durkheim and Weber, and their contributions to the debate on the nature of social inquiry are present.

Running heads: Subject of enquiry
Subject of enquiry
Name of the student
Name of the university
Authors note

Subject of enquiry
What sources of knowledge are (not)valued in your discipline? Why?
Learning is a process of acquiring new knowledge, behaviours skills, values or
preferences. Knowledge s acquired by human beings in three ways, one by hearing, or by
learning or by experiencing (Witten & Hammond2010). Sociology is a subject, which deals
with understanding the dynamics of the social structure. In this subject, the evolving
relationship between the agent and the structure is studied. Traditionally the transfer of
knowledge was seen as a linear process, where the researcher would investigate the matter
and obtain knowledge. Thus knowledge was treated as commodity so in the work of the
classical sociologist like Emile Durkheim we get to know that sociology is a study of social
fact (sui generis). This signifies that anything is which fact or has an objective reality will be
considers as a subject of enquiry in social science. Here lies the contribution of positivist
paradigm, where social science was based on the natural science principle. Thus nothing,
which is empirical or does not have any objective side, will be considered as a subject of
enquiry in sociology. In this case, ontology to this kind of enquiry is build on the objective
reality and the epistemology is the positivism.
This view has been criticised by many authors because unlike the natural world
subjects in social science exercises the will of their situated agency (Dean, 2019). Thus, it is
very important to interpret the reality. Here comes the scientific way how the social reality
will be studied this was described by Weber, where develops a method of verstehen, where
interpretation of the social action is needed. Thus, social sciences is an oxymoron because it
includes the scientific accuracy as well as the freedom of expression, which is in the
periphery of art or humanities. The ontology of this kind of enquiry falls in the subjective
dimension and the epistemology is the interpretivism. Here the subjective dimension of the
respondents will be considered. Knowledge is no more constructed , the enquiry of truth is
not just existing in facts but it is also something which is being expressed. This is because the

Subject of enquiry
people decide to move, they choose to stay unlike the version of the natural sciences.
Knowledge from every sources is valued in sociology because reality exists in totality. The
matter of enquiry may vary from micro, macro, or meso level but this is discipline, which
include any form of knowledge, which contributes in the dynamic aspects of the relationship
(Crotty, 1998). However, one need to understand the knowledge based on irrational facts are
not the concern of this subject. This subject is based on the scientific enquiry to the existing
reality. It aims to understand the lived experience of the people without having a biased
information. The commonsensical knowledge based on the ground of irrational foundation is
not considered as valid in sociology. This is based knowledge based of common sense
derived from the mainstream ideology and the motto of sociology is to debunk and look
through the curtain of social reality.

Subject of enquiry
References
Witten, K., & Hammond, K. (2010). What becomes of social science knowledge: New
Zealand researchers' experiences of knowledge transfer modes and audiences. Kōtuitui: New
Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 5(1), 3-12.
Dean, T. (2019). How we edit science part 5: so what is science?. [online] The Conversation.
Available at: https://theconversation.com/how-we-edit-science-part-5-so-what-is-science-
74550 [Accessed 16 Apr. 2019].
Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the
research process. Sage.