T2

Question 1

What are values?

Answer 1

They are important to us and they will often guide
our actions.

Question 2

one stance to whether Sociological research should have values

Answer 2

We are studying humans so research is going to be VALUE-LADEN

Question 3

COMTE AND DURKHEIM

Answer 3

creation of a better society through PROGRESSIVISM which was not about subjective matters or personal opinion, but rather they shared MODERNIST beliefs

Question 4

Durkheim’s study of suicide

Answer 4

claimed to be completely detached and he said that NO personal values/beliefs influenced the research.

Question 5

WEBER

Answer 5

Weber believes
that values do and should have a presence in into research

Question 6

Values as a guide to research

Answer 6

Sociologists actively choose the areas of society they want to study and therefore their values guide them on this.

Question 7

Data collection and hypothesis testing:

Answer 7

Although there are values throughout the research- Weber argued that sociologists should be value-free when it comes to data collection. Otherwise it would be unethical

Question 8

Values in the interpretation of data

Answer 8

Drawing conclusions again depends on the theoretical position of the sociologist interpreting the data.

Question 9

Values and the sociologist as a citizen:

Answer 9

The sociologist or researcher must not ‘hide behind their research’, and they should be MORALLY accountable for the uses that their research is put to.

Question 10

Gouldner

Answer 10

impossible to be VALUE FREE for two reasons:
1. IMPOSSIBLE – Because either the sociologist or the paymasters values are bound to be reflected in the work
2. UNDESIRABLE – Without values to guide research sociologists are merely putting their services at the disposal of the highest bidder- that is, they put their own values aside to do research purely for the money-