I agree that they never really achieved the sort of replicability reached in other sciences. In perfect honesty, positivism is a bit old-fashioned in sociology

I agree that they never really achieved the sort of replicability reached in other sciences. In perfect honesty, positivism is a bit old-fashioned in sociology (as I understand it secondhand). Like Archaeology/Anthropology (my field), most of the social sciences moved beyond positivism beginning in the 80s because of its many flaws and you'll find few strict adherents today. What replaced it was usually methodological pluralism in North America, but other places sometimes developed differently. But I try to know my audience a bit and sometimes simplify certain things on HN to avoid arguments and conversational detours. Discussing things like postmodernism tends to get sidetracked and that's inherently necessary context, so... Modern sociology is fairly quantitative and data-driven though. I think a lot of people would be surprised.