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4QQMN137: SOCIAL SCIENCE AND MODERN BUSINESS I

Topic 1 Tutorial Questions

Students should complete the core reading for Topic 1 and prepare short
answers to each of the following questions. Each question can be answered
in a single paragraph.

1. What is the aim of science on a predictionist view?

The aim of science from a predictionist view involves identifying event regularities, which
helps to find out whether or not there is a stable relationship between the variables. This
approach leads to a greater focus on predictive accuracies well as the use of mathematical
methods.

2. What is the aim of science on a causalist view? Provide an example of a causal mechanism.

: The causalist view is a more sustainable aim of science, as you are able to understand the
phenomena of interest produced by the underlying causal mechanism. An example of a
phenomena of interest would be an open lock whereas the causal mechanism is turning the
key.

3. What do you understand by the terms open and closed systems?

: Open systems are natural and so external factors and outside forces are not isolated. As a
result, more variables are able to interconnect to create a new phenomenon of interest or a
new event, in other words. Hence, the outcome from this will be explained by an underlying
causal mechanism, showing a causalist view on science.

On the other hand, a closed system is a system whereby external factors (i.e.
extraneous/confounding variables) are less likely to interact with and influence the outcome.
This system is most commonly used in experiments where conditions are controlled in order
for a greater focus on predictive accuracy.

4. What are the conditions needed to ensure that a closed system exists?

To ensure that a closed system exists, there are three conditions. The first is isolation, which
will close it off from any external factors and therefore less likely to influence the outcome.
The second is stability, which means that the event must occur in exactly the same manner
every time. The last one is that the event has to be able to work
on its own condition of isolation.

5. How can the analysis of experimental activity as undertaken in the natural sciences
demonstrate that a causalist view of science is more sustainable than a predictionist view of
science?
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: The causalist view of science acknowledges that the aim of science is to move away from
the phenomena of interest itself to recognising and understanding the underlying causal
mechanism, which has caused the phenomena to occur. As a result, this shifts the aim of
science away from the ability to identify event regularities and the use of mathematical
methods in order to predict the outcome. By conducting experimental activities in social
science, which consists of both natural and social sciences, this is an open system which is
not entirely comprised of event regularities. Event regularities are not required to understand
causal mechanisms and mathematical reasoning is not a crucial aspect as causal explanations
cannot be reduced to quantitative manipulation. As a result, the causalist take of science is
more sustainable as it doesn't rely on prediction (which cannot take place accurately in a
natural environment due to the influence of external factors) but instead allows for scientists
to pick and choose an appropriate method when explaining social phenomena.

6. Do the difficulties associated with constructing closed systems in the social realm
undermine the possibility of social science?

: As the nature of social science is unstable and isolatable, social science cannot be studied in
a closed system. Human individuals cannot be isolated from their natural behaviours and
practices and so there must be some sort of underlying social structure to them. This makes it
possible to explore causal mechanisms which involves identifying norms or general rules that
are generative of practices. Hence, the difficulties associated with constructing closed systems
in the social realm does not undermine the possibility of social science as they are
not constricted to identifying regularities within the closed system for further research around
social science.