Sociological Theory and Methods

Sociological Theory and Methods

1. classical sociologists disagree about values

   • Comte, Marx and Durkheim thought that sociology should aim to discover social facts about how society works; they believed society is shaped by big value systems and that all the meanings we attach to these things are actually products of said system (they aren't really to do with individuals at all) means sociologists can study without worrying about value judgements,
   • Max weber argued there is a crucial difference between facts discovered by research and value judgements attached to those facts. e.g. you can prove net migration has increased but you can't prove that immigration controls should be tightened.
     • values are needed when
       • choosing which area to study.
       • interpreting data (values must be clearly stated)
       • choosing how to use findings (and taking responsibility for their use).
     • research process itself must be kept value free

2. Value free research isn't researcher biased - this research doesn't make judgements about whether something is good or bad.

   • doesn't let researcher's own ideology get in the way.
   • all data must be interpreted objectively
   • end use of the research shouldn't matter; researcher only there to discover knowledge.

3. can research be value free?

   • 20th century positivists thought their research was value free.
     • this is because sociology is viewed as a scientific discipline only concerned with social facts; their role was to discover truths about society not to judge society.
     • sociologists were sought out by govt to solve social problems; they can walk away immediately after handing in their findings, this would mean values do not come into it as they are not responsible for how their findings are used.
     • quantitative methods are much more value free as they give the researcher much less opportunity to influence their respondents,
   • some say sociology can't be value free - decision to research in the first place is value laden (someone has to decide if the research is worth spending money on).
     • bias and interviewer effects can't be avoided; it is the researcher who chooses which questions are answered.
   • Some argue sociology shouldn't be value free - (called committed sociologists) some marxists and feminists deliberately choose research with an end use they approve of; this is to suggest ways in which society can improve.
     • Gouldner (1975) - value free research is impossible (bc you cannot separate value judgements and the work). and is undesirable (bc sociologists should use their values to guide them morally).
     • Becker (1970) - if research is committed then a side must be taken; he believes its a good thing if sociologists take the side of the less powerful groups.
       • Gouldner says more important to take the side of powerless groups whom are trying to fight back.
   • Other factors which make values important
     • way project is funded and career of sociologist can introduce values; if funded by a homeless charity the research will be interpreted in a way that helps the homeless
     • every culture has values and beliefs which they see as true; there is no objective way of saying what is true or not. no one researcher can give an objective view of society as their research always depends on what they think is true.