Scientific Nature of Sociology: 

(i) Sociology is a scientific discipline. It is a science in the sense that involves objective and systematic methods of investigation and evaluation of social reality in the light of empirical evidence and interpretation.

(ii) However, it is also a fact that sociology cannot be directly modelled on the patterns of natural sciences, because human behaviour is different from the world of nature.

(iii) Among other differences the subject matter of natural sciences is relatively static and unchanging whereas human behaviour, the subject matter of sociology, is flexible and dynamic.

(iv) The founder fathers of sociology were concerned with the study of social order and change. They also desired to model the science of society or sociology as exact a discipline as natural sciences.

(v) No doubt sociology is a science because it fulfils the basic requirements of objective and rational knowledge of social reality. Even then the difference between the natural sciences and sociology requires to be stated. Whereas, the natural phenomena can be put under controlled observations it may not be possible to do the same regarding the subject matter of sociology. This is because all social phenomena and social institutions like family, marriage, caste, etc. are constantly changing even while they are being studied.

(vi) In sociological research, it is difficult to be completely value free. Moreover, the research situation itself becomes a social situation where the researcher confronts another human being and gets involved in a process of interaction. This makes it difficult to be objective.

(vii) Good social scientists keep all concerned limitations in mind and try to be as objective as possible. For that purpose, different research tools are used and data are checked and cross checked.