Question

The belief that science could be applied to the study of human behaviors lay in the principle ot cause and effect". Give a sociological example in your explanation/discussion of what this meanS

Answer 1

Science can be applied to study of behavior means study of human behavior can be studies by identifying and observing behavior , then formulation a hypothesis regarding it and then testing whether hypothesis was true and then concluding on cause effect relationship. It tries to establish a cause for an observed behavior i.e cause effect relationship.

If cause and effect relationship can be established then only a study can be called as scientific. However , it is not always possible in studying human behavior to establish cause effect due to its inherent limitation and subjectivity associated. In such cases , if adhered to scientific principle and cause effect is established only to an extent , then also it would be said that science was applied in study.

A sociological example

Let's say a research wants to gauge the effect of a person becoming a star base ball player. What effect it can produce

Hypothesis one says it will increase his self confidence and hypothesis two says it will increase hi social status.

Now the social status and self confidence will be measure. If it is found that both the hypothesis are true after repeating the case over several samples then cause and effect can be predicted. Cause being star athkete while effect is high social status and self confidence.