Research Methods - Objectivity And Values

Question 1

early positivists on objectivity

Answer 1

• e.g. COMTE & DURKHEIM
• creating a better society is not a matter of subjective values about what was best.
• sociology’s job is to discover the truth about how society works by uncovering laws.
• knowledge can solve social problems.
• discovering the truth allows sociologists to objectively say what is best for society.

Question 2

MARX

Answer 2

• MARX saw himself as a scientist and believe historical analysis could reveal the line of development of human society.
• this development included an evolution through a series of different types of class based societies leading to a future communist society where everyone is free to achieve their true potential.
• MARX wanted to reveal the truth of this development to the proletariat so they could overthrow capitalism.

Question 3

WEBER

Answer 3

• he made a hard distinction between value judgement and facts. we cannot derive one form the other.
• FOR EXAMPLE, research may show divorcees are more likely to commit suicide. this fact does not demonstrate the truth of value judgement that we should make divorce harder to obtain. instead we should make it harder to get married meaning the value judgement are not proven by the fact.

Question 4

WEBERS 4 stages for values in research process

Answer 4

1. values as a guide to research
   WEBER believed social reality was made up from a meaningless infinity of facts that make to impossible to study it in its totality. the researcher should select certain facts to study. values are essential in enabling us to select aspects of reality to study.
2. data collection and hypothesis testing
   we must be as objective and unbiased as possible when collecting facts.
3. values in interpretation of data
   facts need to be set in a theoretical framework to understand their significance. this is influenced by our values.
4. values and the sociologist as a citizen
   WEBER argues sociologists are human beings and should not hide behind words such as objectivity when moral issues arise.

Question 5

Value freedom and Commitment
- modern positivists

Answer 5

• own values are irrelevant to their research because…
  1. desire to appear scientific
  science is concerned with the matter of fact not value so sociologists should remain morally neutral.
  2. social position of sociology
  desire to make sociology respected. science is prestige and mimicking it would raise the subjects status.

Question 6

EVALUATION of modern positivists

Answer 6

• WEBER argues that sociologists should take moral responsibility for the effects of their work.

Question 7

Value freedom and commitment
- committed sociology

Answer 7

• MYRDAL argues sociologists should not only spell out their values but should openly take sides and support values and interests of particular individuals or groups.
• GOULDNER argues value free sociology is
  impossible - sociologists or paymasters values are bound to be reflected in work.
  undesirable - without values sociologists are selling their services to the highest bidder.

Question 8

choosing sides - underdog

Answer 8

• by not choosing a side the sociologist is taking the side of the powerful group.
• BECKER argues values are always present in sociology. sociologists should adopt a compassionate stance and take the side of the underdog (criminals, mental patients or powerless groups) rather than the overdog (police).
• less is known about underdogs and their story needs to be told to achieve balance. siding with them can reveal a previously hidden side of social reality.
• FOR EXAMPLE, emphasising with the mental patient shows hidden rationality of behaviour the psychiatrist thinks is irrational.

Question 9

EVALUATION of BECKER

Answer 9

• GOULDNER argues sociologists should take the side of those who are fighting back. sociology should be committed to ending their oppression by unmasking ways in which the powerful maintain their position.

Question 10

Funding and careers

Answer 10

• funding sources include government, businesses, and voluntary organisations.
• the body that pays for the research controls the direction it takes. Sociologists’ work embodies the values and interests of paymasters. They could reject research if findings prove unacceptable.
• sociologists want to keep a career reputation, which influences their choice of topic, research questions, and interpretations. Some censor themselves for being too outspoken.
• sociologists in uni departments are under pressure to publish research.

Question 11

Perspectives and methods

Answer 11

• Sociological perspectives can be seen as embodying different assumptions and values about how society is or should be.
  E.g. feminism sees society based on gender inequality and promotes the rights of women
• assumptions and values influence topics that sociologists of different perspectives choose to research, the concepts they develop, and the conclusions they reach.
• there is a link between methods and value stance
  E.g. interactionists prefer qualitative methods as they can empathise with the underdog.

Question 12

Objectivity and relativism

Answer 12

• if all perspectives involve values, then finding are a reflection of values rather than a true picture of society
• relativism argues:
  -different groups, cultures and individuals have different views as to what is true.
  -there is no independent way of judging whether any view is truer than any other.
  -there is no objective truth.

Question 13

Relativism and postmodernism

Answer 13

• postmodernists take a relativism view of knowledge. They reject the idea that any one account of the social world is superior to another.
• all knowledge is based on values and assumptions. 3