Sociological debates Flashcards
1
Q
1 - Positivism v Interpretivism
A
Positivists - macro, numbers, large amounts of data
Interpretivists - words, meanings and micro
2
Q
2 - Values and ethics in sociology
A
- Sociologists do not want to ‘leave fingerprints’ in their research; they want to be objective, impartial, reliable, valid and useful
How values can impact social research ->
1) Individual values
2) How these values influence the choice of research
3) This will then influence the methods of research
4) This then influences the interpretation of data
5) This then causes recognition of the impact of research in society
What is the place of personal and political values in theory and research?
- Sociology as a science; must be free from personal or political bias = VALUE FREE
- Personal values should not intrude on research but it is impossible to keep them out = VALUE LADEN
- Sociology is a tool used to bring about social change; it is not just about social change; it is not just an academic subject = COMMITTED SOCIOLOGY
3
Q
2# - Value Free Sociology
A
‘Value-free sociology is a myth’ - Alvin Gouldner 1975
- Positivists say objective sociology is possible (Durkheim / Comte)
- External reality / social facts exist; official statistics for example are not truly social facts as there is a human influence on what is recorded and who is being asked etc
- Social facts - things about society that are there all the time; Durkheim’s suicide study; reliable
- Karl Marx believed he was objective AND committed to a cause - possible?
- Methods tend to be quantitative (positivist)
- Positivist - comparable, physical science, unbiased, social facts - truth and objective. Very hard to come at a problem with no view or at the least, to keep it out of your choice, methodology and interpretation of results. Pos methods help with this!
- Choice of method -key - but there is an imposition problem - if the researcher determines the qu values are imposed
- Interpretivists - similar issue ‘qu why do poor kids underachieve at school’ has already excluded issues of gender and ethnicity which might be more the reason for underachievement; a Value has been expressed simply in how the question is worded. Interpretivist data is more open ended and therefore less imposition. The data is driven by the respondent (but interpretation by researcher may still show values)
- Positivists - juts use secondary data - no value judgement -but it was collected for a reason - may reflect values of powerful (e.g. suicide stats based on judgment of coroner).
- Will never get 100% value freedom as there is always human influence in choosing the area of study - some issues are more value laden than others
https: //docs.google.com/document/d/1Und3SFP4y9msOCwkReur9rQcom32KrjXvNeaAiNNryk/edit
4
Q
2# - Value Laden Sociology
A
Can’t help but have values enter research because:
- Historical context - Weber “personal values inevitably influence research choice”
- Funding - people who finance research have a reason and can block publication if results are not what they want
- Careers - all sociologists have career goals and personal ambition - Kuhn “sociologists study ‘fashionable’ subjects”
- Personal interests - sociologists are ‘normal’ (!) people; we all hold beliefs
- E.g. Plummer (2000) - published widely on sexual issues and ‘queer theory’ because of his own sexual preference.
- E.g. Feminists select to write about women and do so from a perspective to combat the malestream view of male sociologists and institutions.
- Postmodern critique - Lyotard (1984) - science is also based on values; science is nothing different.
We see sociologists address the presence of values through:
- Reflexivity - sociologists write up what their beliefs are and how they may have influenced their research (i.e. they are honest!)
- Narratives - different viewpoints and voices are included alongside that of the researcher to provide more than just their values
Funding - charities biased by interests, government may limit what you can publish.
Unis need to get funding - can’t be too radical.
Pref for stats/positivism - cheaper and quicker
5
Q
2# - Committed Sociology - values should guide research
A
- E.G. critical / radical sociologists (marxists/feminists) hold clear values and write for a purpose.
- Liberal view - sociology should be sympathetic to disadvantaged groups (Becker took the side of the ‘underdog’ e.g. those labelled deviant need protection). Becker still felt aiming for the ‘best’ sociology was important and be as objective as possible whilst writing for a cause.
- Radical view - Gouldner - all sociologists want to be published and employed - these desires can intrude into their research. Sociology cannot be value free.
- Marxist - Althusser (1969) - role of sociology to uncover ruling class exploitation of the poor. He saw sociology as science but felt it should still promote radical change.
- Becker - whose side are we on>values always present - sociologist should be on the side of underdog
- Gouldner disagrees with Becker - not underdog but the middle dog the radical who needs to fight back (e.g. the police man doing the bidding of the law maker) Gouldner was very scathing of sociologists he thought had abandoned their values and just work for the money and become ‘hired hands
- He felt sociologists should take moral responsibility for their work. Rather than ‘problem makers’ he called them ‘problem takers’ - ie researching whatever problems large orgs wanted them to look at at the expense of their own credibility as researcher.
6
Q
2# - Questions around committed sociology
A
QUESTION: Can you be objective AND promote radical change?
- Feminism - Hammersley (1992) - 4 ways feminist research is NOT objective:
- Starts with a belief about subordination of women
- Women’s feelings form the basis of research
- Hierarchy of researcher/subject should not exist
- Aim of research is emancipation of women NOT creating credible research
QUESTION: Is committed sociology a good or bad idea?
- Standpoint Theory - using your background and experience provides valuable insights and more valid data. E.g. being black, w/c, female can give a unique perspective
7
Q
2 - Conclusions about values and ethics in sociology
A
- Durkheim says to be scientific and objective - values have no place; (NO)
- Weber says it is inevitable that values will be there for some parts of the research process (choice of topic and interpretation of data) but not others (data collection); (PARTLY)
- Gouldner says it is “unavoidable” and “undesirable” to keep them out,but values can be made clear; (YES)
- Becker says values must be there - sociologists should fight for the underdog! (YES)
8
Q
2 - Criticisms of committed sociology
A
- It is little more than personal opinion
- Value laden means low validity (they will find out what they want to find out! - feminists will find patriarchy, marxists will find exploitation)
- ‘Right’ and ‘wrong’ are personal and can’t be tested.
9
Q
3 - Sociologists and Social Policy - What is social policy
A
Legislation introduced to solve issues in society or to elicit change in society
Areas of focus -
1) Family; Married Man’s Tax Allowance 2003
2) Education; Education Reform Act 1988
3) Crime; Age of Criminal Responsibility
4) Health; Public Health Act 1984 -> Coronavirus Act 2020
5) Work; Age restrictions on child labour
6) Immigration; Asylum regulations - who can settle / right to remain
- Political proposal
- Designed to reform / change / improve society
- May be law if that party is in power
- Produced by a ruling party, opposition, think tanks, pressure groups, lobbyists, charities etc
10
Q
3 - Arguments that social policy should not be influenced by sociologists
A
- Say that social policy decides how resources are distributed amongst different groups where they are designed to have an effect; it should be equitable
- Sociology is an academic subject
- Weber - the job of the professional sociologist is to work out how the social world works but not intervene within it (this is the job of politicians) - politicians can ask for sociologists help for evidence but that is all
11
Q
3 - Worsley and Social Policy (they are interconnected)
A
- Sociological problems are different from social problems
- Sociological problems; feature of social life in need of explanation; not necessarily a ‘problem’ e.g. manners and culture
- Social problems; studied because they cause public friction or private misery - e.g. gangs, crime, poverty and inequality
- However, not all are in agreement about what is a social problem; for example, is rising crime a problem as it shows disregard for law and societal breakdown, or is it good because it shows an effective justice system?
- A social problem causes harm to society (public or private misery) and needs collective action to solve it; housing, employment, social care, education, crime and transport
- A sociological problem is a social or theoretical issue that needs explaining; improvement in girl’s achievement, ill health, crime, poverty and educational underachievement
- All social problems are sociological problems, but all sociological problems are not social problems
12
Q
3 - Reasons why sociology might not influence social policy
A
- Unpopular - if the government doesn’t support the decision, it won’t happen
- Expensive - it is expensive to employ sociologists
- Opportunity missed - may not be able to access the study, those who make the policy or to be published
- Ideology - ideologies differ between sociologists and politicians causes a disconnect
- Government need votes, and so will be unlikely to do anything controversial
- Government’s are restricted by globalisation e.g. do not want businesses to leave the UK
- Financial constraints
- Policies meet opposition
- Economists don’t agree with sociologists; different priorities
- Governments are more influenced by think tanks than sociology
- Governments can be selective to what they listen to
- Local authority more likely to listen to sociologists than central government; social research influences people who then use power to influence politicians
13
Q
3 - Giddens (2006); 9 ways sociology contributes to social policy (Yes, it does impact social policy)
A
- Providing awareness of cultural differences rather than a hunch / stereotype
- Providing self-awareness and understanding - reflexivity / self-reflection / subgroups
- Changing assumptions - don’t go with common sense
- Providing theoretical framework - New Right / Third Way
- Providing practical professional knowledge - experts
- Identifying social problems
- Providing evidence - research; it’s what sociologists do
- Identifying unintended consequences - evaluate existing policies
- Assessing the results of policy
14
Q
3 - Committed sociology; critical and radical sociology
A
- Believes that sociology should solve social problems.
- Sociology can influence social problems because:
- Government funding directs the research (more likely the research will check the effectiveness of Gov’t policy)
- ESRC - Economic and Social Research Centre decides lots of funding
15
Q
3 - Who says sociology can influence social policy?
A
Social Democrats -
- Influenced Labour policy
- The development of the concept of relative poverty by Peter Townsend led to anti-poverty programmes by Labour governments of the 1960’s and 70’ and by New Labour in the late 90’s.
- The Black Report identified a range of cultural and structural causes of inequalities in health. The Black report strongly argued for structural/material solutions to reduce the health divide. They believed that the top priority of governments should be to tackle poverty and low income.
- Liberal Feminist campaigns have led to changes in education to prevent bias against girls and have led to offences such as domestic violence being taken more seriously by the police.
- Left realists - Lea and Young have used the results of local victim surveys to put forward a range of practical solutions to reduce crime. They claim that state intervention and community involvement are essential to halt the spread in crime. For example, they have encouraged closer partnerships between the police and local communities. They also make a strong case for fewer custodial sentences and more community service orders.
The Third Way
- Influenced New Labour (Blair)
- Anthony Giddens - guru for Blair
- 3rd way - new solutions
- Giddens argued for social reform (e.g. limiting social exclusion through changing work, health, education and crime policy)
- Giddens led a unit which reported direct to the Cabinet - Working Tax Credit, Child Benefit increase, Sure Start programme etc.
