Final answer:
Durkheim's The Rules of the Sociological Method aimed to establish sociology as a science by providing a framework for objective study of social facts using natural science methods. He applied these principles in his study to demonstrate the influence of societal factors. Additionally, he explored the evolution of societies and the role of collective social values in maintaining social order.
Step-by-step explanation:
Émile Durkheim, in his seminal work The Rules of the Sociological Method, sought to establish sociology as a legitimate and rigorous scientific discipline. Durkheim aimed to apply the methods of the natural sciences to the study of society by creating a framework of systematic rules for sociological research and analysis.
Through this foundational text published in 1895, Durkheim set forth principles to distinguish sociological inquiry as distinct from other sciences like psychology or philosophy, emphasizing the importance of studying social facts, which he argued are phenomena that exist independently of individual actions and must be treated as things to be studied objectively.
One illustrative example of how Durkheim applied his rules is found in his research , titled (1897), where he used statistical analysis to explore differences in rates between Catholic and Protestant communities. This work underscored the importance of societal factors over individual psychological reasons in influencing human behavior. Durkheim thus demonstrated the power of his sociological methods and further cemented the discipline's foundation in empirical investigation and theoretical development.
Moreover, Durkheim contributed to the understanding of how societies evolve through his analyses, such as in his work Division of Labour in Society (1893), indicating the shift from primitive to capitalist, industrial societies driven by a merit-based system. By delineating methods that could reveal the social underpinnings of various phenomena, including religion and morality, Durkheim espoused the significance of collective social values and how they contribute to social cohesion and order, thereby influencing the overall fabric of society.