Topic 4:objectivity and values in sociology Flashcards
According to the early positivists’ modernist view, what was the job of sociology? What benefit would this bring?
comte and Durkheim- sociology job was to disocover the truth about how society works, uncovering the laws that govern its proper functioning.
By doing this social problems could be solved and human life improved
In what way was the role of sociologists crucial?
by discovering the truth about how society worked, sociologists would be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what was really best for society- they would be able to prescribe how things would be
how did Comte regard sociology
“queen of sciences” and saw sociologists as latter day priests
Briefly explain in what way Marx’s views are similar to those of Comte and Durkheim.
the role of marx’s sociology was to reveal the truth of the line of development of human society, expecially proletariat since they would be the class to overthrow capitalism and create the birth of a communist society.
in this he is similar to comte and Durkheim, in that he sees science as helping to ‘deliver’ the good society
Using an example, explain the distinction made by Weber between value judgements and facts.
made a distinction between facts and values eg research shows divorces more likely to commit suicide, lead us to value of making divorce harder - nothing compels us to understand this
Briefly explain Weber’s views on the role of values in the following stages of the research
process:
a. Values as a guide to research
took idea from phenomenology that society has infinite facts, research pick value relevance eg feminism and gender equality
Briefly explain Weber’s views on the role of values in the following stages of the research
process:
Data collection and hypothesis testing
must be objective and unbiased as possible when collecting facts, keeping values out of the process eg not asking leading questions
Briefly explain Weber’s views on the role of values in the following stages of the research
process:
Values in the interpretation of data
must be explicit with values so that others can see if unconscious bias is present in our interpretation of our data
Briefly explain Weber’s views on the role of values in the following stages of the research
process:
Values and the sociologist as a citizen
must not dodge politics and moral issue eg Einstein speaking out about nuclear weapons
What is meant by ‘committed sociology’?
in which the sociologist spells out the importance of their values of their research
Briefly explain why modern positivists say research should be morally neutral.
science is concerned with fact, not value. for this reason it should be morally neutral. Their job is simply to establish the truth about peoples behaviour and not judge
what do modern positivists argue
argue their own values were irrelevant to research because:
1, sociologists should remain morally neutral, establish the truth and not judge it
2. Gouldner - leaving own values behind to please the paymasters - not taking on moral responsibilities like weber suggested
Briefly outline Myrdal’s views on values in research.
argues that sociologists should openly take sides by supporting the values and interests of particular individuals or groups
value free sociology both impossible and undesirable, due to pay masters being reflected in their work
According to Gouldner, why is value-free sociology:
Impossible
because either the sociologists owns values, or those of their paymasters, are bound to be reflected in their work
According to Gouldner, why is value-free sociology:
Undesirable
since without values to guide research, sociologists are merely selling their services to the highest bidder
According to Becker, whose side do positivists and functionalists take?
powerful groups - police, psychiatrists so on
According to Becker, why should sociologists take the side of the underdog?
this partly because less is known about these groups and their story needs to be told in order to redress the balance.
by identifying with them we can reveal a previously hidden side of social reality
Briefly outline Goffman’s example of how we should study mental patients. How does this illustrate Becker’s views?
we have to take their side. We have to be biased in favour of the patient and against the psychiatrist
this illustrates Becker view of taking the side of the underdog
Briefly explain why interactionists favour qualitative methods of research.
such as participant observation as they reveal the meaning of these ‘outsiders’
Briefly explain Gouldner’s criticism of Becker.
for taking a romantic and sentimental approach to disadvantaged groups. accuses beck of only being concerned only with those who are ‘on their backs’ eg the misunderstood and negatively labelled of deviant behaviour
According to Gouldner, what should sociology be committed to doing?
should be committed to ending their oppression by unmasking the ways in which the powerful maintain their position
Briefly explain why sociologists’ work is likely to embody the values and interests of those who fund it.
because most sociologists research is funded by someone other than sociologists themselves. eg sources include government departments. Often those who pay the research control the direction it takes. for this reason it is likely to embody the values and interests of their paymasters
Briefly outline the values and assumptions of the following perspectives
Feminism
sees society as based on gender inequality and promotes rights of women
Briefly outline the values and assumptions of the following perspectives
Functionalism
sees society as harmonious and promotes conservative values that favour the status quo
Briefly outline the values and assumptions of the following perspectives
Marxism
see society as filled with conflict and strives for a classless society
what is the link between values and method
both interactionists and functionalists can be accused of selecting methods that produce facts that reflect their values and outlook. eg interactionists refer qualitative methods as it fits with their desire no emphasises with the under dog as this method gives actors meaning
Briefly outline the two arguments of relativism.
- different groups/individual’s have different views as to what is true
- there is no independent way of judging way of judging whether any view is truer than any other
Briefly explain how relativism views truth.
there is not absolute or objective truth- just truths plural. what you believe is true is true for you
According to postmodernists, why does no perspective have any special claim to be true?
there are no ‘privileged accounts’ that have special access to the truth. Any perspective that that claims to have the truth is just a meta narrative/big story
all knowledge for which ever perspective is based on values and assumptions and thus no perspective has any special claim to be true
Briefly explain why relativism is self-defeating.
since it claims to be telling us something true, while simultaneously telling us that no one can tell us what is true
