Theory and Methods- Sociological Theory and Methods

Question 1

What are values?

Answer 1

General beliefs about what’s important in life and what is right or wrong

Question 2

What did Comte, Marx and Durkheim think about sociology?

Answer 2

Sociology should aim to discover social facts about how society works

Question 3

What did Comte, Marx and Durkheim believe that sociology is shaped by?

Answer 3

Big value systems and all meanings and values we attach to things are actually determined by these systems

Question 4

Why does Weber disagree with Comte, Marx and Durkheim?

Answer 4

He argued that there was a crucial difference between the facts discovered by research, and the value judgements attached to those facts

Question 5

When are values needed according to Weber? (3 points)

Answer 5

• Choosing which area to study
• Interpreting data
• Choosing how to use the findings

Question 6

What did Weber believe about the research process?

Answer 6

It must be kept value-free

Question 7

What are the aspects of value-free research? (4 points)

Answer 7

• Doesn’t make judgements about whether things that are researched are good or bad
• Doesn’t let the researcher’s own ideology get in the way
• Researcher must interpret all data objectively
• Research should come up with knowledge and the knowledge used isn’t up to the researcher

Question 8

Why did 20th century positivists argue that research could be value neutral? (2 points)

Answer 8

• They viewed sociology as a scientific discipline, positivists believed that it was concerned with social facts
• Sociologists were increasingly sought out by governments to solve social problems so their own values were unimportant

Question 9

What is value laden?

Answer 9

Someone has to decide that research is worth spending money on

Question 10

What research do some say that is most likely to get funding?

Answer 10

Research which the state or businesses want to see

Question 11

How may researcher bias interfere with structured questionnaires?

Answer 11

It’s still the researcher who chooses the questions respondents answer

Question 12

What do committed sociologists argue?

Answer 12

That we shouldn’t try to remove values from sociology

Question 13

What do some Marxist and feminist sociologists believe about sociology?

Answer 13

Sociology should make value judgements about society and suggest ways it could be better

Question 14

What does Gouldner believe about value-free research?

Answer 14

It is undesirable and impossible

Question 15

Why is value-free research undesirable according to Gouldner?

Answer 15

Because sociologists should use their values to guide them morally and they have to take responsibility for the uses of their work in wider society

Question 16

Why is value-free research impossible according to Gouldner?

Answer 16

Because you cannot separate value judgements from the work

Question 17

What does Becker want sociologists to do?

Answer 17

To take the side of the underdogs in society

Question 18

What does Becker say it means if research is committed?

Answer 18

Taking sides

Question 19

What does Becker believe?

Answer 19

It’s a good thing if sociologists take sides with the less powerful groups in society, such as criminals and the mentally ill

Question 20

Why has Becker been criticised for being too focused on powerless groups?

Answer 20

Gouldner says that it’s more important to help those who are actively trying to fight back against their powerlessness

Question 21

Why do relativists say that there is no objective way of saying what is true and what is not?

Answer 21

Every culture in society has its own values and beliefs, and each culture thinks that its values and beliefs are true