Objectivity & Values

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Cards (18)

According to Durkheim and Comte, what is the role of sociology?
They believed that making society better doesn't lie in subjective values/ personal opinions on what's 'best'
Sociology is the science of society that discovers the truth about how society works/ laws about its functioning. Hence, we should use this knowledge to fix social problems
According to Marx, what is the role of sociology?
Positivist (debated); Scientist (Yes)
He believed he could reveal the line of development of human society via historical analysis and materialism
This development was a series of class-based societies that would eventually evolve to be class-free communist societies, where there's no exploitation, alienation and poverty
The role of Marx's sociology is to scientifically reveal the truth of this development to the proletariat, as they would be the class to overthrow capitalism and start a communist society
What does Weber argue?
He distinguishes between value judgements and facts, which can't be derived from one another. M, D & C don't distinguish between the two as they argue science would tell us these values
E.g - Research may show divorcees as more likely to commit suicide. This fact doesn't show the truth of the value judgement about making divorce harder to obtain. Instead, we can accept other values: making marriage harder, or that people have the right to commit suicide
His view shows that no value judgements are proven by an established fact; values still play a role in research
What are the 4 stages of the research process?
Values as a guide to research
Data Collection and Hypothesis Testing
Values in the interpretation of data
Values and the sociologist as a citizen
What is Weber's view on the 1st stage of the research process?
Values as a guide to research
Social reality is made up of meaningless infinity of facts, meaning it's impossible to study it as a whole
Thus, we should only study select areas in terms of their value relevance to our own values/research - hence, highlighting the importance of values
E.G - Feminists value gender equality which leads them to study women's oppression and to develop concepts such as patriarchy
What is Weber's view on the 2nd stage of the research process?

2. Data collection and hypothesis testing
Although values are essential in picking what to study, individuals must be as objective and unbiased as possible when collecting facts
Values should be kept out of research (e.g by not asking leading questions) and kept out while using the gathered facts to test the hypothesis
What is Weber's view on the 3rd stage of the research process?
3. Values in the interpretation of data
Values become important when the data collected needs to be interpreted
The facts need to be set in a theoretical framework in order to draw conclusions and understand their significance
Our choice of theoretical framework is influenced by our values, so values need to be explicit so other researchers can decide if there is unconscious bias in our interpretation
What is Weber's view on the 4th stage of the research process?
4. Values and the Sociologist as a citizen
Sociologists are also citizens, so they can't avoid moral/political issues their work raises by hiding behind objectivity and value freedom
Sociologists must take moral responsibility for the harm their research may do (Accepting zemiology as a factor - Hillyard PM view)
What do Modern Positivists argue?
Unlike Durkheim and Comte, modern positivists argue that their own values are irrelevant to their research for 2 reasons:
Desire to appear scientific
The social position of sociology
What do Modern Positivists mean about the 'Desire to appear scientfic'?
As science is concerned with objective facts, sociologists should stay morally neutral.
Their job is to establish the truth about people's behaviour, not judge it.
Critics argue that this is just a desire to make sociology respectable, as science has high prestige in modern societies compared to other disciplines
What do MP mean about 'The social position of sociology'? (Gouldner)
He argues, in particular American sociologists, had become 'spiritless technicians' by the 50s
Sociology shifted from a critical discipline, that often challenged accepted authority, to sociologists being 'problem takers', who hired themselves out to organisations to take on and solve their problems for them
He argues that, by sociologists leaving their values behind them, they are making a 'gentleman's promise' to not rock the boat by criticising their paymasters (Supports Weber's view on 4th stage)
What is committed sociology? (Mydral. & Gouldner)
Mydral = sociologists shouldn't only make their values explicit, as Weber argues, but should openly take sides by espousing the values/interests of particular groups
Gouldner = value-free sociology is:
Impossible - sociologists or paymasters' values are bound to be reflected in their work
Undesirable - without values to guide research means sociologists are just selling their service to the highest bidder
What does Becker say about 'choosing sides'? (Interactionist)
Values are always in sociology and traditionally, positivists/functionalists take the sides of the powerful formal social control groups e.g police & government
Sociologists should take the underdog's side (powerless groups) instead, as identifying and relating to them gives them a voice to reveal the hidden side of social reality
E.G supports Goffman's view - to describe the situation of mental patients faithfully, we have to be biased in the favour of the patient against the psychiatrist
Why do Interactionists favour qualitative methods
Such methods reveal the meanings of the 'outsiders' (AKA the powerless groups) e.g participant observations
Supports Becker and Goffman's view
What does Gouldner state about 'choosing sides'?
Agreed with Becker about taking the side of the underdog, but criticises him for romanticising his only concern on misunderstood and negatively labelled groups
He takes a Marxist approach and argues that sociologists should take the side of those who fight back, like political radicals struggling to change society
Sociology should be committed to ending their oppression by unmasking the ways in which the powerful maintain their position (Committed Sociology)
How is sociological research funded? How can it impact their career?
Funded by someone else e.g businesses, government & voluntary organisations
Funding body often controls the direction of the research and the kind of questions it asks/fails to ask.
The work is likely to embody the values/ interests of their paymasters, and can even be blocked from publication if they don't approve of the findings
Sociologists may also choose certain topics or censor themselves because they have a reputation/ career in mind
Hence, Gouldner believes all research is inevitably influenced by values
What is the view of society based on each Perspective?
Each POV has an assumption/values about how society should be
Functionalism - society is harmonious and supports conservative values that favour the status quo
Marxism - society is conflict-ridden; they strive for communism
Feminism - society is based on gender inquality; they attempt to promote women's rights
Each persepctive influences the topic each sociologist chooses to research, the concepts developed and conclusions they reach
E.g F view inequality as beneficial for society, whilst M believe its a product for exploitation
What's the link between Sociological Value-stance and Methods?
Interpretivists favour qualitative methods - they fit with their desire to empathise with the underdogs - such methods give them access to the meanings of the actors/outsiders (Supports Becker and Goffman's view)
Functionalists/Positivists favour quantitative methods - they favour the side of the 'establishment'. Their view fits with their uncritical acceptance of official stats produced by the gov. = tend to establish 'social facts'.
Sociological value-stances and methods tend to reflect their values and outlook