1. Theory & methods lesson 3
Can Sociology be objective/ value free?
Theory & methods lesson 3

2. Starter Think of 3 topics you would like to research
Choose one of the topics and write down 3 questions that you would ask in either an interview or a questionnaire.
Swap with your neighbour.
From reading your neighbour’s questions, is it possible to identify their opinion about the topic? Why?

3. Key issues Is an objective, value-free sociology possible?
Is it desirable?

4. Objectivity
What does it mean?
The exclusion of values from research.

5. Key issues Is an objective, value-free sociology possible?
Is it desirable?

6. Position 1
If sociology wants to make any claim to scientific status then it has to be free of personal and political biases.
This is known as value-freedom or objectivity.
Who might take this position?

7. Position 2
A second position is that, ideally, our personal values should not intrude into our sociological studies, but in practice, it is almost impossible to keep them out.
This position sees society as value laden.
Who might take this position?

8. Position 3
At the other extreme from value freedom are those who argue that anyone involved in doing sociological research should want to make things better for people in society (especially the oppressed).
Sociology should therefore be used as a tool that helps bring about social change
Committed sociology

9. Positions!?!
3 volunteers please!!!

10. The early positivists Comte (1798-1857), Durkheim (1858-1917)
(see sociology factsheet)
The creation of a better society was not a matter of subjective values or personal opinions.
Sociology’s job was to discover the truth about how society works & uncover the laws that make it work properly.

11. So...
By discovering the ‘truth’ about how society worked, sociologists would be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what was best for society.

12. Was Marx a positivist? Discuss these 3 questions on your table;
What was Marx trying to achieve?
What was his method?
Was he a positivist?

13. Marx & Durkheim
Marx & Durkheim both believed that scientific methods could produce data that would tell us what values we should hold.
E.g. Research might establish the fact that divorcees are more likely to commit suicide. This tells us that we should make divorce harder to obtain.
What is wrong with this reasoning?

14. Max Weber
In Weber’s view a value can be neither proved nor disproved by the facts: they belong to different realms.
Weber saw an essential role for values in sociological research.
We can divide his views into 4 stages of the research process.
Take a sheet of paper and fold it into quarters
Write ‘Weber’ in the middle

15. 1. Values as a guide to research
We cannot study the whole society
We have to select certain facts and study these
How do we choose facts to study?
We can only select them in terms of what we regard as important based on our own values.
E.g. Feminists value gender equality and therefore study women’s oppression

16. 2. Data collection and hypothesis testing
Whilst values are essential in choosing what to study, Weber argued that we must be as objective and unbiased as possible when collecting the data.
We should not ask leading questions.
Revisit the questions you wrote at the beginning of the lesson – are they leading? Did they reflect your own values?

17. 3. Values in the interpretation of data
The facts need to be set in a theoretical framework so that we can understand their significance and draw conclusions from the,.
Our choice of theoretical framework is influenced by our values.
Therefore, we must be explicit about them, spelling out our values so that others can see if unconscious bias is present in our interpretation.

18. 4. Values and the sociologist as citizen
Research findings often have very real effects on people’s lives, but sociologists sometimes ignore the uses to which their research is put.
Weber argues that scientists and sociologists are also human beings and citizens and they must not dodge the moral and political issues their work raises.
They must take moral responsibility for the harm their work may do.

19. Moral responsibiility?
Einstein’s theories in physics helped make the atomic bomb possible.
Einstein voiced his opposition to nuclear weapons.
Read through box 4.4 p 273 Webb
How much do you agree with the following statement;
‘Social scientists have a moral responsibility for their work’
What do you think???
Volunteers please – Where do you stand, continuum line

20. Listen.... Do not write anything down yet
Really listen and read the following 5 slides!!!!
Ask any questions you need to make sure you understand

21. Value freedom and commitment
Neo-Marxists, interactionists and feminists have argued for a ‘committed sociology’ in which the sociologist spells out the importance of their personal values to their research.

22. Modern positivists
Modern positivists argued that their own values were irrelevant to their research for 2 reasons:
The desire to appear scientific
Job is simply to establish the truth about people’s behaviour, not to judge it.
The social position of society
Sociologists as hired hands

23. Committed sociology
Myrdal (1969) argues that sociologists should not only spell out their values, they should also openly ‘take sides’.
Committed sociologists – it is neither possible nor desirable to keep values out of research.
Impossible because sociologist’s values are bound to be reflected in their work
Undesirable since without values to guide research sociologists are putting their services at the disposal of the highest bidder.

24. Becker (1970)– ‘whose side are we on’
Traditionally the powerful
Should be the underdogs – give the less powerful a voice
Becker = interactionalist
What method does he favour, why?

25. Gouldner Gouldner criticises
Becker – romantic and sentimental and 20th century positivist for being subservient (submissive/controlled) to their paymasters
He argues that all research is inevitably influenced by values (personal/money)

26. Summary of theorists
Complete the gap fill activity – how much do you remember!!

27. Website activities! www.sociology.uk.net
Typical exam question on this topic –
Assess the view that values can and should be kept out of sociological research.
33 marks (45 minutes) p275 Webb

28. Plenary task
Write down on your exit card 3 questions relating to this theoretical topic. We will use them in a quiz in our next theory lesson!
Homework reminder!!!
Extended writing 1000 words, is sociology a science due FRIDAY- Tomorrow!!!!