Sociology should be valued driven

Question 1

What are the four points for sociology should be valued driven

Answer 1

Committed sociologist

Criticisms of funding bodies

interpretivist

Limitations of experiment

Question 2

Match up the points

Answer 2

Early positive vs committed sociologist

Modern positivists vs criticisms of the funding body

Positivist (Durkheim) vs interpretivist

Methods (experiments) vs limitations of experiments

Question 3

Committed sociologist

Answer 3

Marxist sociologist argues that sociologist should be committed to the discipline. This means that sociologist should openly take sides, advocating the values and interest or particular groups and individuals. These are usually the underdogs of society.

Sociologist cannot, and should not be value in the research

Feminist also take a similar arguing that sociologists should be on the side of females so they have a voice within the patriarchal society

Emphasising with these participants also allows the researcher to gain verstehen

Question 4

Criticisms of funding bodies

Answer 4

Funding sources include government, departments, businesses, etc

The body that pays for the research controls the direction the research takes
Therefore, sociologists work is the interests of their Paymaster and sometimes the funding bodies may block the publication of the research if it’s finding prove unacceptable

It can be argued that all research is influenced by values

Question 5

Interpretivist

Answer 5

Interpretivist argue that sociologists should impose and include their values in the research process

By doing this sociologist would gain an in-depth qualitative data, which would allow the researcher to gain a deeper understanding

Douglas criticises dame study on suicide as he uses official statistics

By using statistics, The researcher does not understand the meaning behind suicide and that validity is reduced

Question 6

Limitations of experiments

Answer 6

Laboratory experiments have several weaknesses, and some sociologists argue that we should not use this method in sociology

Some weaknesses include
It is impossible to control all possible variables within an experiment

Since laboratories on a natural environment, it is likely that the Hawthorn effect will occur and that the participants may act differently as
Thry are aware they are a part of the study

Verstehen be gained as there is no insight on why people behaved in the way that they did