Theory and Methods- Sociological Theory and Methods Flashcards
What are values?
General beliefs about what’s important in life and what is right or wrong
What did Comte, Marx and Durkheim think about sociology?
Sociology should aim to discover social facts about how society works
What did Comte, Marx and Durkheim believe that sociology is shaped by?
Big value systems and all meanings and values we attach to things are actually determined by these systems
Why does Weber disagree with Comte, Marx and Durkheim?
He argued that there was a crucial difference between the facts discovered by research, and the value judgements attached to those facts
When are values needed according to Weber? (3 points)
- Choosing which area to study
- Interpreting data
- Choosing how to use the findings
What did Weber believe about the research process?
It must be kept value-free
What are the aspects of value-free research? (4 points)
- 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
Why did 20th century positivists argue that research could be value neutral? (2 points)
- 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
What is value laden?
Someone has to decide that research is worth spending money on
What research do some say that is most likely to get funding?
Research which the state or businesses want to see
How may researcher bias interfere with structured questionnaires?
It’s still the researcher who chooses the questions respondents answer
What do committed sociologists argue?
That we shouldn’t try to remove values from sociology
What do some Marxist and feminist sociologists believe about sociology?
Sociology should make value judgements about society and suggest ways it could be better
What does Gouldner believe about value-free research?
It is undesirable and impossible
Why is value-free research undesirable according to Gouldner?
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
Why is value-free research impossible according to Gouldner?
Because you cannot separate value judgements from the work
What does Becker want sociologists to do?
To take the side of the underdogs in society
What does Becker say it means if research is committed?
Taking sides
What does Becker believe?
It’s a good thing if sociologists take sides with the less powerful groups in society, such as criminals and the mentally ill
Why has Becker been criticised for being too focused on powerless groups?
Gouldner says that it’s more important to help those who are actively trying to fight back against their powerlessness
Why do relativists say that there is no objective way of saying what is true and what is not?
Every culture in society has its own values and beliefs, and each culture thinks that its values and beliefs are true
