3931773
Sociology, Objectivity & Values
- Some argue that it is both possible
and desirable to keep values out of
research in the same way as natural
scientists are said to do. Only in this
way can we produce true, scientific
knowledge about society.
- Others argue that, because
sociologists are humans with
values, studying other humans
with values, it is impossible to keep
personal values out of ones
research. Some go further arguing
that it is actually desirable for
sociologists to use their values to
improve society through their
work.
- Others argue that, because
sociologists are humans with
values, studying other humans
with values, it is impossible to keep
personal values out of ones
research. Some go further arguing
that it is actually desirable for
sociologists to use their values to
improve society through their
work.
- Early Positivists- Comte
and Durkeim argued the
creation of a better
society was not a matter
of subjective values or
personal opinions about
what was ‘best'.
- As the science of society, sociology’s job was
to discover the truth about how society works,
uncovering the laws that govern its proper
functioning. Equipped with this knowledge,
social problems could be solved and human
life improved. For these early Positivists
values can and should be kept out of
sociological research.
- As the science of society, sociology’s job was
to discover the truth about how society works,
uncovering the laws that govern its proper
functioning. Equipped with this knowledge,
social problems could be solved and human
life improved. For these early Positivists
values can and should be kept out of
sociological research.
- Max Webber- Values important in
social research when:choosing
what is relevant to study,
interpreting data – we must spell
out our values, deciding on the
use of these findings But…. Values
must be kept out of the data
collection and hypothesis testing.
- For Weber values have an essential role in sociological
research. He sees values as relevant to the sociologist in
choosing what to research, in interpreting the data
collected, and as a citizen and member of society in
deciding the use to which the findings should be put. By
contrast, the sociologist's values must be kept out of the
actual process of gathering the facts. Weber’s account is
very perceptive and much more realistic than that of the
positivists. For Weber then values are relevant at
different stages but must be kept out of the actual
resource process.
- For Weber values have an essential role in sociological
research. He sees values as relevant to the sociologist in
choosing what to research, in interpreting the data
collected, and as a citizen and member of society in
deciding the use to which the findings should be put. By
contrast, the sociologist's values must be kept out of the
actual process of gathering the facts. Weber’s account is
very perceptive and much more realistic than that of the
positivists. For Weber then values are relevant at
different stages but must be kept out of the actual
resource process.
- Committed Sociology- Myrdal (1969) - Sociologists should openly
'take sides' of particular individuals or groups.
- Myrdal and Gouldner argues that a value-free sociology is impossible and is undesirable.
- In contemporary sociology the positivists have shied away from value commitment, but the
Marxists, feminists and interactionists have argued for a committed sociology, in which the
sociologist spells out the importance of their personal values to their research. For Myrdal (1969)
sociologists should not only spell out their values, as Weber recommends, they should also openly
'take sides' of particular individuals or groups. Myrdal and Gouldner argue that a value-free sociology
is impossible, because either the sociologist's own values, or those of their paymasters, are bound to
be reflected in their work.
- It is also undesirable, since without values to guide research, sociologists are merely putting their
services at the disposal of the highest bidder. If sociology was value free there is no reason why a
sociologist cannot sell his/her knowledge to spread a disease just as freely as he can to fight it.
- It is also undesirable, since without values to guide research, sociologists are merely putting their
services at the disposal of the highest bidder. If sociology was value free there is no reason why a
sociologist cannot sell his/her knowledge to spread a disease just as freely as he can to fight it.
- In contemporary sociology the positivists have shied away from value commitment, but the
Marxists, feminists and interactionists have argued for a committed sociology, in which the
sociologist spells out the importance of their personal values to their research. For Myrdal (1969)
sociologists should not only spell out their values, as Weber recommends, they should also openly
'take sides' of particular individuals or groups. Myrdal and Gouldner argue that a value-free sociology
is impossible, because either the sociologist's own values, or those of their paymasters, are bound to
be reflected in their work.
- Myrdal and Gouldner argues that a value-free sociology is impossible and is undesirable.
- Whose side are we on? Goffman & Gouldner
- If sociology is influenced by values it follows that sociologists must take sides. According to Erving
Goffman (1968), to describe the situation of a mental patient the sociologist must take their side. We
have to be biased in favour of the patient and against the psychiatrist in order to emphasise and
identify with the powerless. They have a strong preference for qualitative methods such as
participant observation, which they see as revealing the meanings of these 'outsiders'. Gouldner is
critical of Goffman arguing that instead of taking the side of ‘those who are on their backs’ we should
take the side of the freedom fighters, struggling to change society. It is clear however from both
these arguments that values should not be kept out of sociology.
- If sociology is influenced by values it follows that sociologists must take sides. According to Erving
Goffman (1968), to describe the situation of a mental patient the sociologist must take their side. We
have to be biased in favour of the patient and against the psychiatrist in order to emphasise and
identify with the powerless. They have a strong preference for qualitative methods such as
participant observation, which they see as revealing the meanings of these 'outsiders'. Gouldner is
critical of Goffman arguing that instead of taking the side of ‘those who are on their backs’ we should
take the side of the freedom fighters, struggling to change society. It is clear however from both
these arguments that values should not be kept out of sociology.
- Funding Careers - The body that pays may
be in control of the direction of the research.
- Sociologists may also wish to further their careers and reputations
- It is also important that we consider the relationship between funding bodies and research.
Sociologists may also wish to further their careers and reputations - this may influence their choice
of topic, their research questions and methods and how they interpret their findings. The body that
pays for research may control the direction the research takes and the kinds of questions that it asks
- and fails to ask. A good example is The Black Report (1980) into class inequalities in health - The
Conservative government arranged for its release over a bank holiday weekend, allegedly in the
hope of reducing the publicity it would receive - because the report's findings ran counter to
government views. Sociologist’s work is likely to embody the values and interests of their
paymasters.
- It is also important that we consider the relationship between funding bodies and research.
Sociologists may also wish to further their careers and reputations - this may influence their choice
of topic, their research questions and methods and how they interpret their findings. The body that
pays for research may control the direction the research takes and the kinds of questions that it asks
- and fails to ask. A good example is The Black Report (1980) into class inequalities in health - The
Conservative government arranged for its release over a bank holiday weekend, allegedly in the
hope of reducing the publicity it would receive - because the report's findings ran counter to
government views. Sociologist’s work is likely to embody the values and interests of their
paymasters.
- Sociologists may also wish to further their careers and reputations
- Perpective-
- Feminism sees society as based on gender
inequality and promotes the rights of women.
- Functionalism sees society as harmonious and
espouses conservative values that favour the
status quo.
- Marxism sees society as conflict-ridden
and strives for a classless society.
- Different sociological perspectives can be seen to
express different assumptions and values about
how society is or should be for example feminism
sees society as based on gender inequality and
promotes the rights of women. Functionalism
sees society as harmonious and espouses
conservative values that favour the status quo,
whereas Marxism sees society as conflict-ridden
and strives for a classless society. Clearly these
values will influence the topics sociologists
research, the concepts they develop and the
conclusions they reach.
- Feminism sees society as based on gender
inequality and promotes the rights of women.
- Methods
- Interactionists' preference for qualitative
methods fits with their desire to empathise
with the underdog, since such methods give
them access to the actor's meanings and
worldview.
- Functionalist and positivist
tendency to take the side of the
'establishment' and see things from
the viewpoint of those in authority
fits well with their uncritical
acceptance of official statistics
produced by government
departments.
- Similarly, there is a link between the kinds of methods a
sociologist will use and their value stance. Interactionists’
preference for qualitative methods fits with their desire
to empathise with the underdog, since such methods give
them access to the actor's meanings and worldview.
Functionalist and positivist tendency to take the side of
the 'establishment' and see things from the viewpoint of
those in authority fits well with their uncritical acceptance
of official statistics produced by government
departments. Both interactionists and functionalists can
be accused of selecting methods that produce facts that
reflect their values and outlook.
- Similarly, there is a link between the kinds of methods a
sociologist will use and their value stance. Interactionists’
preference for qualitative methods fits with their desire
to empathise with the underdog, since such methods give
them access to the actor's meanings and worldview.
Functionalist and positivist tendency to take the side of
the 'establishment' and see things from the viewpoint of
those in authority fits well with their uncritical acceptance
of official statistics produced by government
departments. Both interactionists and functionalists can
be accused of selecting methods that produce facts that
reflect their values and outlook.
- Functionalist and positivist
tendency to take the side of the
'establishment' and see things from
the viewpoint of those in authority
fits well with their uncritical
acceptance of official statistics
produced by government
departments.
- Objectivity & Relativism
- Relativism argues that: Different groups, cultures and individuals – including sociologists, have
different views as to what is true. Each one sees the world in their own distinctive way, through their
own perspectives, concepts, values and interests. There is no independent way of judging whether
any view is truer than any other.
- For relativists such as postmodernists all knowledge is based on values Different groups, cultures
and individuals, including sociologists, have different views as to what is true. Each one sees the
world in their own distinctive way, through their own perspectives, concepts, values and interests.
There is no independent way of judging whether any view is truer than any other. All knowledge is
based on values and thus no perspective has any special claim to the truth.
- For relativists such as postmodernists all knowledge is based on values Different groups, cultures
and individuals, including sociologists, have different views as to what is true. Each one sees the
world in their own distinctive way, through their own perspectives, concepts, values and interests.
There is no independent way of judging whether any view is truer than any other. All knowledge is
based on values and thus no perspective has any special claim to the truth.
- Relativism argues that: Different groups, cultures and individuals – including sociologists, have
different views as to what is true. Each one sees the world in their own distinctive way, through their
own perspectives, concepts, values and interests. There is no independent way of judging whether
any view is truer than any other.
- Interactionists' preference for qualitative
methods fits with their desire to empathise
with the underdog, since such methods give
them access to the actor's meanings and
worldview.
- Conclusion- It is clear that there are several
different arguments about the relationship
between sociology and values. It appears that
most sociologists recognise that values to play
an important part in research despite the
positivist contention to the contrary. Perhaps
Weber offers the most notable account and he
sets out a clear framework for sociologists to
follow. He recognises that ii is impossible to
conduct research in a value free way as
Gouldner does, but at the same time he also
suggests that these values must be transparent
and when data is been collected the sociologist
should aim towards value freedom.
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