Explanation, mechanism and simulatión: Another way of researching in sociology

Abstract

Although Sociology was born with scientific vocation, its current status asa scientific discipline seems not to enjoy good health. Departing from this idea,the purpose of the paper is threefold: first, several arguments for explanations of social phenomena through mechanisms will be reviewed. Such explanations canoffer a suitable way to Sociology to be able to develop as an authentic science.Second, the idea that such explanations can be computational programmes createdby agent-based modelling will be justified. Finally, it will build new argumentsabout how such explanations can avoid the ambiguity and the obscurityconceptual that a part of sociology suffers; reduce its theoretical fragmentationand strengthen the multidisciplinary dialogue with the purpose of researchingin depth social reality as well as being able to design effective policies againstseveral social problems.