Topic 4 - Objectivity and values in society

What did early positivists Durkheim and Comte argue about sociology and values

• Sociology would discover the truth about how society works

• Sociologists would say objectively and with scientific certainty what was realty best for society

Who criticised early positivists and argued that they made no distinction between the facts revealed by science and the value we should hold

• Weber

• No distinction between the fats as revealed by science and the values we should hold

• Argues there is no clear distinction between value judgement and facts and that we cannot derive one from the other

What are Webers 4 stages of research process

1. Values as a guide to research

2. Data collection and hypothesis testing

3. Values in the interpretation of data

4. Values and the sociologist as citizens

What does it mean by values as a guide to research

• We choose what to study based on what we regard as important based on our own values

What does it mean by data collection and hypothesis testing

• We should keep this objective and unbiased

• Aim to get respondents to give their view

What does it mean by values in the interpretation of data

• Values become important because we need to understand significance and draw conclusions

• Must be explicit about values so others can see if unconscious bias is present

What does values and the sociologist as a citizen mean

• Citizens and sociologists are also human beings and should not dodge moral and political issues their work raises

• Must take moral responsibility for any harm the research may do

Who argues that sociologists were supporting mainstream social order

• Gouldner

• Reinforces existing social order by focusing on reforming rather than radically changing

• Argues that it should be more critical to challenge society

Who argues that sociologists should share their values and ‘take sides’

• Myrdal

• They should ‘take sides’ by expressing values and interests of particular interest or groups

What does relativism argue

• Different group cultures and individuals have different views and way they see the world is different

• No independent ways of judging what view is true