objectivity and values

Question 1

it is possible to be value free - the sociologists

Answer 1

Durkheim
Comte
Marx

Question 2

it is not possible to be value free - the sociologists

Answer 2

Becker
Gouldner

Question 3

it is and it isn’t possible to be value free - the sociologists

Answer 3

Weber

Question 4

Weber’s view on value freedom

Answer 4

sociology cannot be completely value free but some elements can be
makes a distinction between facts and value judgements - fact = can be proven or disproven by evidence, value judgements = cannot be proven or disproven

Question 5

Weber’s view on value freedom - areas where sociology can be value free

Answer 5

his views can be divided into 4 stages of the research process

stage 2 - data collection:
- should be objective and unbiased
any hypothesis must stand or fall solely on whether if fits the observed facts

Question 6

Weber’s view on value freedom - areas where sociology cannot be value free

Answer 6

his views can be divided into 4 stages of the research process
stage 1 - values as a guide to research:
- values play an important role in selecting the area of research as we only select what we feel is important based on our values

stage 3 - interpretation of data:
- facts need a theoretical framework so that it possible to see the significance of the data and draw conclusions - framework is based around individuals values

Question 7

Gouldner’s view Ao1

Answer 7

sociological knowledge is a social product of human actions values

all sociologists possess domain assumptions, a world view into which they have been unconsciously socialised by their culture and which may seep into their research.

Question 7

Gouldner AO2

Answer 7

‘all sociologists possess domain assumptions’

male sociologists may unconsciously decide the dominance of a patriarchal culture. Parsons believed that there were distinct gender roles within the family which were the product of biology.

Question 8

Gouldner Ao3

Answer 8

support -
Phillips who claims data collection involves interaction between researchers and their human subjects, values inevitably bias this interaction

Question 9

Becker AO1

Answer 9

should take the side of the underdog

less is known about these groups but also because their stories need to be told to reveal the hidden side of society

Question 10

Becker Ao2

Answer 10

for feminists the underdogs are women

for marxists the underdogs are the working class

Question 11

Becker Ao3

Answer 11

Gouldner criticises Becker for being too romantic and sentimental towards disadvantaged groups.

Instead, he adopts a Marxist perspective that sociologists should take the side of those ‘fighting back’ the political radical struggling to change society

Question 12

positivist - Durkheim

Answer 12

by discovering the truth about how society works, sociologists would be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what was really best for society

Question 13

Positivist - Durkheim - AO3

Answer 13

feminism support - sociology should be driven by the desire to make society better and should be used to expose the injustice of patriarchy.