Flashcards on Values and Ethics (2.6)

What is meant by the term 'value-free sociology'?

Many sociologists emphasise the importance of objectivity in research. What makes a statement objective?

Positivists believe that the nature of sociological research is no different from that of any of the physical scientists. Why?

These independent phenomena can be measured and classified. As a result, what can be constructed and tested?

The 'social facts' positivists refer to are the statistics obtained by direct observation or, where this is impossible, through quantitative methods such as questionnaires. Why do they regard such methods as objective?

Which sociologist argues that personal biases and political opinions of researchers are irrelevant, provided that the research is well designed and there is no attempt to distort or alter the findings?

In line with Popper's ideas on falsification, to ensure that no biases have inadvertently intruded, how does the publication of research methods and findings ensure that research is objective?

What is meant by the term 'value-laden sociology'?

Those who believe that sociology is inevitably value-laden have identified four ways in which values enter research. Give examples:

Which sociologist pointed out that the argument for value-free sociology is partially based in a particular historical context?

Which sociologist has traditionally been associated with the idea that personal and political values should be largely excluded from research?

How does Gouldner apply the argument that research is affected by the historical context in which it occurs to Weber?

Which two sociologist pointed out that the sociology cannot be value-free due to the fact that the person funding it often has an ulterior motive for doing so?

Philo and Miller argue that, increasingly, all sciences are having their critical researchers silenced. Why is this happening, and what is the result?

Gouldner also points out that a sociologist's career goals can result in their research being value-laden. What does he mean by this?

What concept does Kuhn apply to this belief?

Finally, it is argued that the personal beliefs of a sociologist will inevitably result in their research being value-laden. Why is this?

Gouldner states that all researchers make basic assumptions about social life What term does he use to refer to these assumptions?

Why can these domain assumptions benefit research?

Why can these domain assumptions negatively impact research?

Similarly, sociologists find particular areas of study 'interesting', and so are drawn to exploring them. However, their interest makes it difficult for them to remain objective. Which sociologist illustrates this?

Sociologists from which perspective are particularly critical of the belief that rational thinking, based on verifiable evidence, is superior to any other approach in understanding the world?

Postmodernists argue that scientific thinking is just one of the many possible ways of approaching an understanding of the world and it is not inherently better than any other. According to postmodernists, what is the process of science based on?

In writing about their research, postmodernists have adopted two tactics. What are they?

Who puts forward a similar account?

What term does Foucault use to refer to the way people talk and think about particular issues?

If the discourse favoured by a particular group becomes dominant, what do they also gain control over?

How is Foucault's argument therefore similar to the argument put forward by postmodernists?

A third approach comes from those who believe that sociology shouldn't be value-free but should have some explicit values guiding its approach to study. What term is used to refer to this?

Who are the most avid advocates of committed sociology?

Critical sociologists don't always agree about the line that critical sociology should take. Some believe that sociology should be sympathetic to the disadvantaged and oppressed. However, what fault can be identified here?

How do other committed sociologists tackle this issue?

These differences are reflected in the disagreements between which two sociologists?

What topic in particular did Becker and Gouldner disagree about?

How did Becker approach the study of deviance?

How did Becker approach the study of deviance?

When did the famous debate between Becker and Gouldner occur?

Both sociologists agreed that sociology should not be value-free and instead should be committed. However, what question subsequently arose?

How did Becker begin the debate?

By examining issues from the underdog's perspective, what can emerge?

Why did Gouldner attack Becker for this argument?

Which Marxist sociologist put forward a very similar argument to that of Gouldner?

Althusser argued that the role of sociology is to uncover the ways in which the ruling class control the mass of the population. In doing so, what did he hope to achieve, and how did he believe he would achieve this?

Why was Althusser's attitude to values in sociology contradictory?

Which feminist agreed with the idea of exposing the workings of an oppressive society?

However, what did Spender believe was the key to doing this?

Which sociologist identified the four elements of feminist research?

What are the four elements of feminist research?

Committed sociologists, whether liberal or radical, run the risk of being accused of producing sociology that is little more than personal opinion. According to this viewpoint, sociology has two serious problems. What is the first?

How does Phil Carspecken deny this accusation?

The second issue is that it can be argued that it is inappropriate to base sociology on opinions relating to what is right and wrong. Why?

How does Andrew Sayer respond to this?