objectivity and values Flashcards
what do positivists believe about sociology
think it can be studied free of values because its objective
what does myrdal and gouldber believe
that sociologists could only identify their values but opening ‘take sides’ exposing the interests of actual groups and believe it’s undesirable to be value neutral
what does weber believe
- can be value free once the research process has been chosen but the values need to be stated
- values as a guide to research so we can only select areas of study in terms of their relevance in value
- data collection and hypothesis testing so must be as objective as possible
- values in interpretation of data
- values and the sociologist as a citizen so they can’t avoid moral issues their work raises/ hides behind
- value laden
what do interpretivists believe
sociology cannot be studied free of values because its subjective - their values are influenced by choice of research topic, choice of method and funding (participants)
what does it mean to have values in research
it refers to the ideas and beliefs that the researcher holds and sociologists are divided whether it’s possible to stop one’s values interfering with research
what do postmodernists lyotard and baudrillard critique
they argue the whole process of sociological and scientific thinking is based on a series of vales about the nature of society
what is scientific thinking
one way to understand the world and isn’t any better than any other way of thinking and doesn’t provide ‘superior truths’
what is committed sociology
this is when sociology should not be value free and should have explicit values guiding it’s approach to study and is mostly favoured by critical sociologists such as feminists or marxists
liberal and radical perspectives on committed sociology
critical sociologists don’t always agree about the approach it should take
liberal view - sociology shops be sympathetic to the disadvantaged and oppressed and be less concerned with studying those in power
radical view - focus on those with power and place more focus on social structure
