A2 Sociology Topic 7 Objectivity and values in sociology

Learning Outcomes LO1: List key concepts in the values and sociology debate LO2: Outline key concepts in the sociology and values debate LO3: Evaluate the idea that sociology can be value free

Starter: Individual Activity Read through the piece of writing you have been given Answer the questions

The Early Positivists Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim Sociology IS science Sociology is objective Sociology is to uncover laws of human society Sociology is about social progress Marx not a positivist but employed positivist language – materialism, prediction He described his approach as scientific THIS APPROACH EMPHASISES ‘VALUE FREEDOM’

Max Weber Influenced by idealism as well as materialism Draws a line between ‘facts’ and value judgements Sociologists establish facts not value judgements E.g Divorcees are more likely to commit suicide FACT A change in the law should be enacted to reduce this

Pair-work Working in pairs complete the fact or value judgement sheet

Weber: Values as a guide The social world is infinite The sociologist must select what to study Acknowledged that we all have values – these will direct our choice of research topic Values are therefore important In this sense ‘doing sociology’ is a subjective process

However….. Sociology becomes objective when: We operartionalise our concepts Write our hypothesis Collect our data These MUST be carried out as objectively as possible

Modern Positivism – late 19 th century onwards Sociology is entirely objective Sociologist to remain neutral Present facts Establish the truth

Alvin Gouldner (1975) – Committed sociology Weberian sociologist Value commitment Sociology after 1950 was ‘spiritless’ Sociology had sold out Impossible for sociology to be objective Sociologists are ‘in the pocket’ of funding organisations

Value Commitment Myrdal (1969) Sociologists to be blatant about values – take sides Becker (1970) Sociology should highlight lives of powerless Goffman (1968) Put ourselves in the place of the downtrodden From these perspectives sociology is VALUE LADEN

Pair activity Complete activity on social science and the military on page 273

Funding and careers Read the article you have been given Answer the questions

Perspectives and Methods Gouldner: All research is inevitably the product of an individual’s values or the group funding it. Where do the perspectives fit in? PerspectiveValues Functionalism Marxism Feminism

Objectivity and relativism Difficult to establish truths Truth is based on time and space (modernist approach) There is no independent way of proving one theory truer than another (postmodernist approach)

Postmodernism and relativism There is no one truth Truths are relative to the person espousing it All truths are based on values rather than any objective facts Truths such as Marxism are ‘Meta- Narratives’ – big stories AO2 – What might be the problem with relativism?

Individual Activity Read the short piece by Weberian sociologist George Ritzer Answer the questions

Individual Activity Complete the questions on page 275