Debates

Question 1

what do positivists favour?

Answer 1

scientific approach quantitative data
patterns and trends
cause and effect

Question 2

what do interpretivists favour?

Answer 2

non-scientific approach
qualitative data
verstehen
detail

Question 3

sociology CAN and SHOULD be a science

Positivists

Answer 3

although his study has faults there are strengths to using positivist methods

Durkheim and other positivist sociologists want sociology to be perceive and follow the same structure as the natural sciences

by doing this they believe that sociology can gain true, objective knowledge similar to the natural sciences

this will allow sociologists to use objective information in order to solve social problems and achieve progress

By using official statistics, Durkheim was able to make comparisons of suicide statistics across Europe

The large amount of data he used allowed his findings to be representative

Question 4

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be a science

Interpretivists

Answer 4

Scientific research methods are inappropriate to study society

society can not be quantified or put in to a lab which other positivist methods seek to do

Interpretivists argue that sociologists should seek to gain verstehen in their research. They believe that qualitative research should be gained

Douglas criticised Durkheim’s suicide study as he uses quantitative data and seeks to study the topic through official statistics

Such issues should be studied sensitively using qualitative data to allow the researcher to gain in depth data and would allow them to build verstehen

Douglas studied suicide using documents such as suicide notes

values validity over reliability

Question 5

Sociology CAN and SHOULD be a science

Paradigm shift

Answer 5

Sometimes science goes through a paradigm shift - as confidence in the existing paradigm declines, scientists seek for new answers

a scientific revolution takes place as scientists look for a robust set of findings

when the science community accepts the competing paradigm this becomes the new paradigm and indicates that a paradigm shift has occurred

In sociology, paradigm shifts have occurred. In the past sociologists such as functionalists and Marxists agreed that we were in a modern society but a new theory of sociologists have emerged (postmodernists) who argue we have moved away from modernity indicating that a paradigm shift has occurred in sociology

Question 6

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be a science

Paradigms

Answer 6

paradigm = shared set of assumptions everyone believes in e.g all biologists believe in photosynthesis

Scientists come to accept the paradigm uncritically because of their socialisation

The natural sciences all have a paradigm in which scientists base their research on

According to Kuhn science can not exist without a shared paradigm because without a consensus there would only be rival thoughts and no unified body of research

sociology does not have a paradigm as competing theories exist

For example the New Right are not in agreement with feminists, indicating that a shared set of assumptions do not exist in society

Question 7

Sociology CAN and SHOULD be a science

Objectivity

Answer 7

Positivist sociologists value objectivity (being factual and keeping opinions out of the
research process).

They argue that sociologists should be value free – not impose their values in the study.

Positivists want sociological data to be
objective so it is not clouded by subjective
opinions and in turn has higher validity.

If a sociologist was to impose their own values,
validity (truthfulness of data) is compromised
as it is tainted by researcher bias and opinion.

Question 8

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be a science

Committed sociology

Answer 8

Marxist sociologist, Gouldner, argues that sociologists should be committed to their discipline by openly ‘taking sides’.

Sociologists should by advocating the values and interests of particular groups and individuals – notably the ‘underdogs’ of society.

Feminists would take a similar stance by arguing that sociologists should be on the side of females so they have a voice in a patriarchal society - Like how Dobash and Dobash gave domestic abuse survivors a voice in a patriarchal society

Empathising with these participants also allows researchers to gain verstehen.

The natural sciences are value free and the opinions of scientists are not expected to impose their own values in their scientific research.

This highlights a significant difference between the social and natural sciences.

Question 9

Sociology CAN and SHOULD be a science

Some sociology can be falsified

Answer 9

Some aspects and theories can be falsified – put to the test, which can be proven wrong by others. For example, theories have managed to
falsify the New Right belief that single parent families lead to a life of crime.

Theories such as Feminism and Left Realists
criticise New Right for this assumption and have proved Murray wrong.

This is like how scientists prove each other wrong to get the most updated truth

Question 10

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be a science

Falsification

Answer 10

Popper argues that what makes science unique is falsificationism; a scientific statement is one that can be falsified – proved wrong.

In relation to sociology, this is often seen as unscientific because it consists of theories, which cannot be put to the test thus cannot be falsified.

For example, Marx predicts that a revolution will occur which will lead to a classless society but this has not happened because of the false class-consciousness of the proletariat.

Hence, the prediction cannot be falsified.

If there is a revolution, Marxism is correct – and if there is not a revolution, Marxism is still correct.

Question 11

Sociology should be value FREE

Early positivists

Answer 11

You don’t need your own ideas about social problems, the data will tell you

Early positivists such as Comte believed in the enlightenment project - they believe that science could discover factual knowledge which could be used to improve society

sociology is the science of society and it was the job of sociology to discover the truth about how society works. With this knowledge sociology could fix societal problems

Comte argues that this gives sociology a crucial role. By discovering the truth about society sociologists will be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what is best for society

Therefore, you don’t need your own ideas about social problems, the data will tell you

Question 12

Sociology should be value DRIVEN/LADEN

Committed Sociologists

Answer 12

Gouldner argues that sociologists should be committed to their discipline

sociology should openy take sides by advocating values and interests of particular groups in society - notably the ‘underdogs’

sociology can not be value free

feminists would take a similar stance by arguing that sociologists should be on women’s side so that they have a voice in a patriarchal society - shown by dobash and dobash

empathising with participants allows for verstehen

Question 13

Sociology should be value FREE

Positivists

Answer 13

Durkheim used official statistics to study suicide. He wanted to establish reasons for suicide and by using statistics he was able to compare and contrast suicide rates across Europe.

Positivists favour cause and effect research

By using this method he was able to leave his thoughts and opinions out of the research process - this made his research objective

Objectivity is key for Durkheim as researchers should not taint the research process or data by imposing their values as it will result in data with low validity that is biased.

Question 14

Sociology should be value DRIVEN/LADEN

Interpretivists

Answer 14

Interpretivists argue that sociologists should conduct value laden research - sociologists should impose and include their values in the research process

By doing this, sociologists would gain in-depth, rich, qualitative data which will allow the researcher to gain verstehen

Douglas criticises Durkheim’s suicide study as he uses official statistics

this doesn’t gain any verstehen and so the researcher can’t know the real cause of the suicide

Douglas argues that suicide statistics are socially constructed as coroners decide whether a death constitutes as a suicide. This is a subjective decision and may differ from one to another and therefore the validity of his study is low

Question 15

Sociology should be value FREE

Modern positivists

Answer 15

Positivists in the C20th believed that their own
values were irrelevant to their research. The
desire to be scientific is the main reason for this
and as the natural sciences do not include
morals or opinions, sociology should not.

Thus, sociologists should remain morally neutral – their job is to establish the truth about people’s behaviour not judge it.

In the mid 1950s, several sociologists were seen as ‘problem takers’ who would be hired by businesses or the military to solve their problems.

These sociologists left their values out of their
research as their ‘pay masters’ were not interested in the researcher’s values – the researcher was not getting paid to implement
their views in the research.

They believed that sociology should be value
free because this gives the subject purpose; we can provide useful information to the different parts of society to help society grow.

Question 16

Sociology should be value DRIVEN/LADEN

Criticisms of funding bodies

Answer 16

Funding sources include government departments, businesses and voluntary organisations.

Often, the body that pays for the research controls the direction the research takes. Therefore, the sociologists work is likely to embody the values and interests of their paymasters.

Sometimes, funding bodies may block publication of the research if its findings prove unacceptable.

It can be argued that all research is inevitably influenced by values – whether it is the values of the sociologists, or those of the funding body that pays for the research.

Question 17

Sociology should be value FREE

Methods (experiments)

Answer 17

Sociologists should be objective when conducting research methods. They should aim to adopt the same principles as the natural sciences.

Experiments are an example of such methods and are often used by positivists. Experiments can be in a laboratory or in a natural field environment.

Milgram used a lab experiment to study obedience. The data he gathered was value free as there was no researcher
bias or researcher involvement within the study.

Milgram set up the experiment and measured the effects of having an authority figure on obedience. Researchers remain detached and objective in experiments.

Question 18

Sociology should be value DRIVEN/LADEN

Limitations of experiments

Answer 18

Laboratory experiments have several weaknesses and some sociologist argue that we should not use this method in sociology.

Weaknesses include: - It is impossible to control all the possible variables within an experiment. - Since laboratories aren’t a natural environment, it is likely that the Hawthorne effect will occur; participants may act differently as they are aware that they are part of a study.

It is difficult to study wider societal issues within the artificial setting of a lab.

Verstehen cannot gained

There is no insight into why people behaved the way they did (why did people continue to provide electric shocks?).

Question 19

Sociology COULD and SHOULD influence social policy

Liberal feminism

Answer 19

feminists believe that society is based on conflict between genders

society is patriarchal and benefits men at women’s expense

liberal fem adopt a march of progress view - they argue that women’s rights have improved over time and legislation is a main reason for this

lib fem have campaigned and conducted research which has had an impact on numerous policy areas

for example in education sociology has influenced policies such as learning materials that promote a more positive image of females in order to avoid gender bias

Question 20

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT influence social policy

Difference feminism

Answer 20

Difference fem argue that patriarchy is experienced in different ways

women experience the world in diff ways

e.g a black disabled woman in WWI has a different experience to a hispanic woman in the third world

they argue that feminists should work to highlight the diversity of women’s experiences of the world rather than categorising them all together; an approach that tends to marginalise certain groups

with this in mind social policies must reflect the interests of different women and their needs however this proves impossible as policies can’t be made in a way that helps all women

Question 21

Sociology COULD and SHOULD influence social policy

The New Right

Answer 21

Although they don’t like the current policies, they have influenced policies before e.g in education and make numerous suggestions - proves they believe it can and should even though they don’t like the current ones

The new right believe in state intervention in areas such as family life and education undermines self-reliance and an individual sense of reality

this leads to greater social problems like crime

Murray argues that generous welfare benefits acts as a perverse incentive - explain this

encourages dependency culture and an underclass of single mothers, absent fathers and unsocialised children

The NR promote the traditional NF as this is ideal for primary socialisation and allows the family to be self reliant

man - instrumental
woman - expressive
makes sure govt intervention not needed

Although they are critical of numerous current policies they are closely aligned with the conservatives and support their policies on welfare as it reduces the dependency culture

they also favour a tougher stance on crime and punishment - they adopt a zero tolerance approach

Question 22

Sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT influence social policy

Radical feminism

Answer 22

they differ from liberal and argue that policies aren’t enough to tackle patriarchy

radical solutions e.g separatism needed not policy

They criticise the New Right view on social policy as theyhold traditional views that rad fem are very critical of

By reducing benefits to minimise the number of LPFs radicals argue this discriminates against women as they are mainly female headed

if the policies that the NR propose where to go ahead in society, women would be plunged even further into their unfavourable position

therefore policy disadvantages women and therefore radical solutions are needed

Question 23

Sociology COULD and SHOULD influence social policy

Functionalism and positivism

Answer 23

Early positivists such as Comte and Durkheim

took the view that sociology was a science,

which could discover both the causes of social

problems, and forge scientifically based

solutions for them.

· Their approach was part of the Enlightenment

Project, which used science and reason to

improve society.

· Functionalists view the state as beneficial for

society and serves the interests of society as a

whole, producing and implementing policies for

the good of all.

· These policies help society run more smoothly

and efficiently indicating that the relationship

between sociology and the state should be

positive.

Functionalists and positivists favour social policies that are sometimes referred to as ‘piecemeal social engineering’. · In other words, taking a step-by-step approach by tackling one issues at a time. By doing this, problems within society can be manageably tackled. · They take a march of progress view by making society better one-step at a time.