two types of value/objectivity
value laden / subjective - requires interpretation and cannot be easily verified/falsified
value free - objectively true (no bias)
what was early sociology dominated by
positivists
- comte, durkheim etc
how did early positivists see society and sociology
saw sociology as a scientific view that would give them answers for how society should be ran
- crucial role of discovering how society works so that we could scientifically say what to do - solve social problems
was karl marx a positivist
he deffo saw himself as a scientist and believed he discovered truth about societies future and inevitabiliy of classless society
- he saw his role as revealing the truth to the proletariat
what distinction does weber make
distinction between value judgements and facts -
thought we cannot derive one from the other
eg, just because divorces can drive suicide rate up, we shouldnt make divorce illegal, since we cannot prove the value judgement
how did weber see values as essential for society
- can be a guide to research (relevance to us)
- date collection and hypothesis testing (he said we should try be as objective as possible)
- values in interpretation of data - our choice of theoretical framwork is influenced by values - so must state values explicity to show unconscious bias
- sociologist as a citizen - must take moral respobsibility of their work - eg, if it causes harm,
eg. einsteins theory helped make atomic bombs but he spoke out against nuclear weapons
did weber think sociology was value free
yes, he thought we attached values to it
Becker and interactionism on values
social life based on interaction - he says meaning and actions are negotiated
- meanings are linked to value since the meaning a social actor attaches to an event will reflect their values
who says ‘we cannot avoid taking sides’ in sociology - what is their solution
becker :)
(sociologist should be aware of biases and make this clear)
- to overcome imbalance, should take compassionate stance with underdogs - to understand their voice we often have to be biased (mental patient seeing pscychologist as evil)
who called becker a ‘peeping tom’
Goulder
evaluation on Becker (+ the sociologist)
- becker is a ‘peeping tom’ who does nothing to help ‘underdogs’ he studies
- takes a romantic appraoch to disadvantaged groups
Goulder on value and functionalism
functionalism projects political + ideological neutrality which is claiming to be above politics but acc serves needs of status quo
- takes a marxist view that we should side with powerless and commit to helping overcome oppression
why does funding and careers affect value (3)
- most sociologial research paid by govt, business etc so wont fund things that challenge their work
- may block publication of research they funded if it goes against what they want
- sociologists will want to further careers and censor themselves to help this
An example of where we should be biased (with sociologist)
Goffman
- to describe situation of mental patient faithfully we must be biased in favour of patient and against psychiatrist
- link to empathising with powerless to give them a voice
how did becker’s values influence his choice of methods
wanted to research ‘underdogs; so usually chose qualitative methods to reveal word and gain verstehen
what does relativism argue about objectivity
- diff groups of individuals have diff views to what is true - reflected in values + interests
- no way of judging if a view is truer than any other
- no absolute truth just plural truths
how do values link to conflict and consensus theories, eg, feminism
embodies assumption of society that it is based upon gender inequality and so research will reflect this.
- their same research will be conflicted with func research, which may say certain differences, such as expressive role, is good for society
who says all resaerch is inevitably influenced by values
Gouldner
who says there is no objective truth, just plural truths
relativism (what post modernists agree with - link to meta narratives)
democratisation of truth meaning
every individual has their own truth - it is all subjective
(relativism)
