Sociology And Values

Question 1

Comte and Durkheim

Answer 1

• in support for value freedom- arguing sociologists should work in the same way as the scientist with objective, measurable, testable ideas
• when separate from values and bias, the sociologists is in the best position to suggest what is best for society, theories can then be constructed which can be tested
• study of L Suicidde helps establishing social facts, arguing sociology can be a science

Question 2

Marx

Answer 2

• favours value freedom, favouring a scientific approach to the study of society
• believes he applied scientific, objective, historical research when exploring development of capitalism in a progressive, linear development from Feudalist society into capitalism
• argues capitalism would ultimately lead to alienation of the working class, causing a revolution

CRIT; values strengths of communism, taking from granted that it is ideal- not objective

Question 3

Weber

Answer 3

• argues value freedom is too idealistic, instead favouring a value laden interpretivist view
• argues social facs cannot tell us how society works but instead this is values- eg positivism tells us that church is declining but not that this doesn’t mean people dont still value religion
• instead need to use subjective, value laden opinion, thoughts, emotions and meanings of individuals (verstehen), being useful as a guide to help sociologists choose which aspects of life to study- value relevance
• value judgements mean sociologists should not state which aspects of society they find desirable/ undesirable- but must tell others about our values so that interpretations can be made within that context

Question 4

Gouldner

Answer 4

• argues it is dishonest to say researchers can keep values out of research, favours value laden- should be open and honest about them so that others can decide for themselves to what degree values have influence in their research
• draws attention to research may be influences by researcher’s personal agenda, career goals and ambition- as such may might want to please the establishment and not upset the norm
• argues the historical period will aec what research is carried out and in to what areas

Question 5

Philo and Miller

Answer 5

• ares that research is ultimately dictated by whoever is funding it eg what is to be studied, why, when, how, who
• funding agencies might only want particular findings

Question 6

Becker

Answer 6

• argues values are present in all research- even positivism—> always examines the view of the most powerful groups in society those who get to define crime, morality, poverty, class etc
• argues it is now time to look at the underdogs rather than the overdogs, little is known about these groups and so a new dimension to reality can be uncovered

Question 7

Goffman

Answer 7

• examined the concept for mental illness through the eyes of the mentally ill patient- breaking down the bias toward the doctors opinion and replaced with that of the patient
• takes away from opinant groups defining and measuring mental illness

Question 8

Relativism

Answer 8

• it is impossible to say what is true or what reality is
• addresses this through;
  
  • different groups, cultures and individuals have different views as to what is true- each is distinctive to the group
  • there is no independent way of judging whether any view if truer than any other
  • there is no single, over-riding truth- just pluralism of truth