T and M > objectivity and values Flashcards
(24 cards)
define value-free
Objectively examining a situation without letting your own prejudices/opinions influence your research
define objectivity
Impartiality, lacking prejudice or bias
when researching
define subjectivity
Based on personal feelings/opinions
AO3: postmodernism > value -free is impossible
All perspectives involve values and their findings, arguably they are just a reflection of their values rather than a true picture of society. For postmodernists there would be no way of deciding which of these different versions of reality are true.
who founded positivist sociology and what did he believe
Comte > believed that sociology should be a science of society. He believed that the purpose of sociology was to propose remedies for social and moral problems, i.e. to fix society if it experienced social problems.
outline Comte’s view of value-free sociology
scientific sociology would one day reveal the ideal
society to live in > 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 ought to be.
In fact, Comte regarded sociology as the ‘queen of the sciences’ and saw sociologists as latter-day priests of a new scientific religion of truth.
outline Durkheim’s view of value-free sociology
Sociology must uncover the truth of society and
establish “social facts” explaining human behaviours. Equipped with this knowledge, social problems could be solved and human life improved. Science will therefore help deliver the ‘good’ society as sociologists can say objectively what is best for
society.
outline Marx’s view of value-free sociology
saw sociology as a science He claimed that the purpose of his analysis of capitalism was to scientifically reveal to the working class the inequality and exploitation that underpinned this
economic system. This would lead the working-class to overthrow capitalism and to bring about the birth of communist society. Marx therefore also saw scientific sociology as helping to ‘deliver’ a better society.
AO3: criticism of Marx
he argued we need to scientifically “prove” that the working class were exploited and therefore reveal to them the truth.
this is NOT VALUE-FREE > he studied capitalism with a certain agenda and was aiming to fiund a certain outcome
AO3: critiques of early positivists
- Sociologists are working within a set of assumptions about society (e.g. conflict or consensus) , setting out to “prove” them to the world. > assumptions are not value-free
- Research is value laden – the sociologist designs the questionnaire, writes the questions, interprets the data. Sociologists may have ignored data that didn’t fit their value judgements.
- Most sociological research is funded by government departments, businesses and voluntary organisations. If the body pays for the research, they control the direction the research takes and the kinds of questions it asks (and fails to ask).
- Sociologists may censor themselves for fear of harming their career prospects
outline Weber’s view of value-free research
Weber saw an essential role for values in sociological research. Weber sees values as relevant to the sociologist in choosing what to research, in interpreting the data collected and in deciding the use to which the finding’s should be put.
By contrast, the sociologists values must be kept out of the actual process of fact gathering.
outline Weber’s 4 essential roles for values in research
- Values as a guide to research > Values help us
choose which aspects of social life to study. - Values and data collection > we should keep values out of the data collection process
- Values and data interpretation > Values are important when we interpret research. We need to put the findings within a theoretical concept.
- Values and effects of research > sociologists have a responsibility to look at the effects of our research. We cannot hide behind ‘objectivity’ at this stage – particularly if our findings can cause harm.
outline Philips’ beliefs on objectivity and value freedom
Sociology lacks the means or methods to avoid making subjective judgements. > Phillips argued data collection is a social process so we can
expect bias and invalidity to arise out of the effects of interaction with research subjects.
explain how structured interviews and questionnaires may be subjective and value ladden
imposition problem > sociologist already decided which topics are important > they decide the questions and pre-selected answers
explain how non-random sampling may be subjective and value ladden
sociologists may end up choosing those who look as though they might cooperate with the research
explain how participant observation may be subjective and value ladden
sociologists may end up identifying with the group they are studying. They may ‘go native’ and find that their objectivity is undermined by friendship. When writing up their research, they may unconsciously select only that data that shows the group in a positive light.
AO2: example of subjective participant observation
Venkatesh was probably guilty of biases – his values were partly shaped by the fact that he liked the people he was supposedly objectively observing.
who argues sociology should not be value-free
Gouldner > value-free sociology is a myth because it is impossible to separate sociologists from
what they observe - knowledge does not exist outside of people. It is a social product, the result of human actions and values.
explain why value-free sociology is impossible and undesirable
- Impossible – either the sociologists own values, or
those of their paymasters will be reflected in their
work - Undesirable – without values to guide research,
sociologists are merely selling their services to the
highest bidder and will lose their morals/integrity – this will not create the ‘good’ society.
explain how funding bodies make value-free sociology impossible
what gets studied by sociologists depends upon those with power making value judgements about what is interesting and worthwhile. Gomm notes that most funding comes from the government and big business. > research only focuses on issues that governments and business see as important. For example, corporate business has funded research in the USA aimed at improving worker productivity (e.g. the Hawthorne experiment conducted by E. Mayo).
Moreover powerful groups have the power to resist sociological research. It is a fact that there have been numerous studies of the poor and the
working class but very few studies of the wealthy or powerful institutions such as the public schools.
what does Gomm suggest about value-free research
the values of those who employ sociologists are
very important in the choice of research topic. Sociological research may be presented as objective and neutral but as Gomm points out value freedom depends upon who controls the values.
outline how the focus on careers can make value-free research impossible
we should consider the sociologist’s own personal values deriving from their background, upbringing etc
Sociologists may also wish to further their careers and reputations, which may influence their choice of topic (for example, choosing something that is in fashion), their research questions and methods and how they interpret their findings. Some may censor themselves for fear that being too outspoken will harm their career prospects or even cost them their job.
Sociologists in university departments are also likely to be under pressure to publish research, regardless of its quality or usefulness.
what does Becker argue about value-free sociology
no knowledge is value-free, and all knowledge must
favour somebody > Sociology should be committed to social change for human improvement and take responsibility for the moral implications and their uses of work. He arguesthat sociology should always take the side of the underprivileged.
AO3: criticism of Becker
Gouldner criticised Becker for taking a romantic and sentimental approach to disadvantaged groups. > He takes a Marx approach and argues that sociology should be committed to ending oppression by
unmasking the ways in which the powerful maintain their position.
