Karteikarten
Value Freedom Debate
Karten in diesem Stapel (26)
- 1What is value freedom?Value freedom occurs when sociologists remain objective, not letting there personal views/opinions affect their research.
- 2What are the key assumptions of the value freedom debate?Value freedom occurs when sociologists ensure that their own personal views/ideologies do not affect the way research is conducted and research outcomes. The key debate is between positivists who believe that value free sociology is possible versus interpretivists who believe it is not possible.
- 3Different sociological perspectives have different values about how society should be. What are Feminisms views on how society should be?Sees society as based on gender or inequalities and promotes the rights of women.
- 4What are Functionalisms views on how society should be?Sees society as harmonious and promotes conservative values that favour the status quo.
- 5What are Marxisms views on how society should be?Sees society as conflict-ridden and strives for a classless society.
- 6What do all these values influence?-The topics researchers choose to research
-The concepts they develop
-The conclusions that they can reach
For example, functionalists have concluded that inequality is beneficial for society whereas Marxists believe it produces exploitation of the poor - 7Early Positivists (Durkheim & Comte) What are their theories and values?Places value on scientifically discovering the truth about how society works. They say that the 'job' of sociology is to discover truth about how society works. No matter the sociologist's subjective values they should discover the 'truth' about how society works - they should be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what is best for society
- 8What are Marx's views on theories and values?Places value on an ideal classless communist society. A scientific approach will show us how to reach it (he sees science as helping to deliver a good society)
- 9What is Weber's theory?Makes a distinction between value judgement and facts. Sociologists must take responsibility for the moral/political harm that their research may cause.
- 10What are Weber's values on conducting research (topic, collecting data and interpreting data)?1. Choosing a research topic - Should choose on the basis of what we regard as important based on our own values e.g. because feminists value gender equality they study topics linked to women's oppression
2. Collecting data - Sociologists should be objective and unbiased as possible when collecting the facts i.e. they need to keep values out of the process. E.g. no leading questions to give answers that the sociologists wants to hear
3. Interpretation - The choice of the theoretical framework of the research is influenced by the sociologist's values - 11Positivists say that value free sociology is POSSIBLE What are the 3 reasons for this?1. It IS possible for sociologists to follow the logic of natural science research, their job is simply to establish the truth about behaviour
2. Although, experimental research is rarely used because of practical (difficulties controlling variables) and ethical issues (potential harm to participants), the logic of natural science research can be followed (hypothetico deductive model). For example, sociologists should only look at what is directly observable (no feelings, emotions or values)
3. Sociologists can be objective - 12How can sociologists be objective?1. They can ensure that their own personal ideologies do not enter into their research- remaining - remaining detached and neutral
2. By using quantitative methods which allow little room for researcher bias
3. When analysing data the positivists merely looks for patterns and deal with facts in an objective way - their values/opinions do not come into play. - 13Sociologists can be objective according positivists - Examples of how using quantitative methods leaves little room for researcher biasE.g. 1 - Official statistics such as death rates are "hard data" (little room for subjectivity). For example, Durkheim made use of official suicide rates to establish an objective and scientific theory if suicide
E.g. 2 - Structured interviews' questions are standardised and allow little room for interviewer involvement. For example, the BCS has set questions on victimisation where the interviewer's role is limited to asking questions and recording data on a laptop. - 14Positivists say that sociology SHOULD BE value free1. Sociology should remain morally neutral - their job is simply to establish the truth about behaviour (not praise or condemn it)
2. Positivists see sociology as a science being concerned with matters of fact. - 15The see sociology AS A science being concerned with matters of fact. Research can:- Produces knowledge that is certain
- Can be generalised
- Be used to establish laws of cause and effect
- Be used to make predictions
- Be replicated
- Gain data that is high in reliability - 16An example of how positivists research can be value free.For example, positivistic researchers at the home office claim to be able to generalise about crime trends and make predictions about patterns of victimisation because of their use of large scale social surveys not because of their values in this area.
- 17Interpretivists say that value free sociology is NOT possible Why?1.It is neither possible nor desirable to keep values out of research
2.Sociologists can not be objective - 18Explain what is meant by 'it is neither possible or desirable to keep values out of research' (Gouldner)It is not possible for sociologists to follow the logic of natural science research. This is because the subjet matter of natural and social science is fundamentally different. Gouldner says that value free sociology is:
1. Impossible - either the sociologist's or paymaster's values will be reflected in the work
2. Undesirable - without values sociologists are simply putting their services to the highest bidder - 19What does Becker(1970) say about sociology not being objective?Beck says that values are always present in sociology. Sociologists cannot ensure their own personal ideologies do not enter into their research. For example, the choice of topic and which BSA ethical guidelines to observe involve personal ideologies of the sociologists. Some sociologists are happy to carry out CPO studies on crime even though it involves deception and exploitation of the pps. Even quantitative data inevitably involve bias/values.
- 20Two examples of Becker's ideas?1. Official statistics are social constructions which reflect the values of a range of social actors. For example, suicide statistics are not social facts but data influenced by the decision making of family members and coroners (N.B. could develop this idea based on suicide notes, plus could explain why crime stats are social constructions e.g. under reporting)
2. Structured interviews involves choosing a set of predetermined questions and bias can be instilled in terms of tone of voice when asking questions. - 21In order to secure funding for research and enhance career prospects, sociologists are likely to embody the values and interests of their paymasters. What does this mean for their research?The research can be stopped if it is deemed unacceptable by the funding organisation e.g. the conservative party released the Black report on a bank holiday weekend - possibly to reduce publicity as its findings opposed government views. In addition, the sociologist's own values coming form their own background and upbringing will always be present.
- 22Interpretivists SHOULD NOT be value free What are the 3 reasons?1. Not desirable to be value free
2. Can't gain trust if remaining objective and value free
3. Committed sociology - 23What is meant by not desirable to value free? (similar to that of the science debate, reliable? valid? hmmm)Interpretivists favour the use of qualitative methods such as observation and informal interviews to find out about meanings, feelings and actions. Furthermore a non-scientific approach generates data that is highly valid, insightful and achieves verstehen. For example, interpretivist feminists Dobash and Dobash gained a true and detailed understanding of women's experience of domestic violence by carrying out out informal interviews which lasted up to 12 hours
- 24What is meant by 'can't gain trust in remaining objective and value free? (Oakley)Oakley argues that only taking active part in the research process can the sociologist gain the trust of those they research. She argues that sociologists should be open to their bias (reflexive) as shown through her research into motherhood. A further example, is illustrated through McIntyre's journalistic CPO study into football hooliganism. He managed to build up rapport (trust) and consequently achieved verstehen with the Chelsea head-hunters
- 25What is meant by committed sociology?Mydral (1969) argues that sociologists should openly 'take sides' and support in interests of a particular group. Sociologists' values should lie with the 'underdog'. They should take a compassionate stance and take the side of the less powerful groups e.g. criminals, mental patients. Therefore sociology should make their own values known and use them to help certain groups in society.
- 26What are the critical points of the value freedom debate?- Is it even possible for the natural sciences to be value free? E.g. funding institutions influence research and Lynch argues that scientists disregard evidence that goes against their theories.
- Postmodernists argue the values and assumptions of sociologists from the different perspectives will find its way into research and thus no perspective has any special claim to be true and objective
- Increasingly sociologists triangulate to achieve research outcomes which are both objective and subjective, believing this is the best way to ascertain an understanding of our society.
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- A-level Sociology (Paper 1 and 3 - Research Methods and Theory) Karteikarten am Value Freedom Debate, erstellt von Catherine Rayner am 01/04/2018.
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- Catherine Rayner
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