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THEORIES AND METHODS debates in sociology - Coggle Diagram
THEORIES AND METHODS debates in sociology
sociology, objectivity and value freedom
POSIVITISM
sociology should be value free and objective
sociology should be scientific and an essential aspect of this is objectivity, unbiased researcher during the course of their research
GOULDNER
in 1950s suggested american sociologists had become "spiritless technicians" who rarely challenged their paymasters
using structured and scientific research methods ensures objectivity and value freedom
sociology can be value free as it collects social facts that exist independently from the researcher, once data from social facts is collected then a theory can be established
marx
is a posivitist, using scientific methods to come up with a theory to benefit society- a communist revolution
social action theory- weber
argues values have a place in both sociology and science- points to how values influence topics we choose (value relevance) however does note that values must not be involved in the collection of data e.g. no leading questions
PHILLIPS
data collection itself social process, interviews pre-determined questions and what experiences are important
social desirability effect
INTERPRETEVISTS
sociology should be value laden
gouldner
value free sociology is impossible- a myth, sociologists make domain assumptions of the research, therefore they decide the method, questions and type of data desirable
those who pay for research may influence the area the research is conducted upon, values of funding bodies will be involved in sociological research-
GOMM
value freedom often depends on who controls the values
heavily criticise the positivist idea that sociology should be value free, as sociological facts do not speak for themselves therefore it is a sociologists job to give these facts a meaning depending on theoretical assumptions/values of the researcher
commited sociology- undesirable for sociology to be value free, needs clear views which guide it's approach to particular outcomes or social groups
becker
"whose side are we on?" and believes sociology without values is siding with powerful groups in society, therefore by giving sociology values we can help minorities and save powerless groups in society
gouldner
we must also research groups with power as they created structures and oppression
GOMM
presenting research as truth means sociologists can deny responsibility for how their research is used by policy makers, need values so we can see what/why things are NOT being researched
POST-MODERNISTS
anything claiming to be truth should not be dismissed, rather considered to be part of one big meta-narrative
sociology and science
POSITIVISTS
social phenomena can be observed, measured and quantified.
sociology is a real thing made up of social factors and exist independently of individuals
sociology has all the factors needed to be a science
social facts cause events in social world- identified by scientific research methods just as natural world identified by science
durkheim le suicide, suicide rates between catholics and protestants, as protestants higher rate than catholics he concluded there was a cause and effect vibe
based on hypothetico-deductive model
scientific discovery should go through logical stages
observation made of social phenomena
a hypothesis explaining phenomena formulated
evidence collected, quantifiable/systematic methods
hypothesis determined T/F
if T, hypothesis becomes a theory and social law
POPPER
refutes as should look for falsifiability instead
ANDREW SAYER- scientific realism
open sciences (we cannot directly see) often unable to accurately predict phenomena they study
sociology seen as open science then because it concerns itself with developing models of social structures and evaluating by effects rather than observing them
INTERPRETEVITSTS
popper
falsifiability- science should be based on falsification, theories are only provisional as have not been disproven
sociology cannot be scientific as theories cannot be disproven e.g. marx ideas of revolution cannot be falsified as have not happened so deems sociology unscientific
sociology only could be scientific if produces a hypothesis that can be falsified through empirical research- not possible for theories
FEYERABEND
critical of popper as argues no logic to science, this idea of a sort of formula is not really followed- 'anything goes'
cause and effect can't be established in humans, as meanings and motivations behind actions must be taken into account, these are internal to people's consciousness
no objective truth, more partial truth
characteristics of science:
empirical
testable/reliable
theoretical
cumulative
objective and value free
KUHN SCIENTIFIC PARADIGMS
science operates in its own paradigm, a framework shared by a group of people.
the natural sciences work on a set of routines and practices that are unquestioned by those who carry out such customs
when anomalies do occur within natural science that question OG frameworks, a scientific revolution will occur to restructure
scientific paradigm accordingly to new discoveries
sociology cannot be scientific because it does not operate in one single paradigm as natural sciences do
range of theories adopted by sociologists which all possess very different views of sociology- sociology can only be scientific is these different ideologies did not exist
if we were to eradicate all differing ideologies and conform to one singular one, sociology could be a science
how scientific is science? (realists and social constructionists)
scientists professionals with promotion aspects
1in4 prepared to check OG data for scrutiny
paradigms
realists- not all phenomena observable, much discovered by effects and not underlying structures
sociology and social policy
WORSLEY
social problem
, social misbehaviour that causes public friction and calls for collective action to solve
sociological problem
something that occurs, not necessarily an issue e.g. why we obey law
factors affecting whether sociological research affects policy
electoral popularity
ideological preferences of gvmt
interest groups
globalisation
critical sociology
cost
funding
"what is to count as a problem is itself generally a matter of political debate"-
TOM BURDEN
POSITIVISTS
sociology should link to social policy
research provides value free data, so gvmts can cause fair policies
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS
and
LEFT REALISTS
recommendations can help eradicate social problems such as social inequality
LIBERAL FEMINISTS
research provides evidence to implement equal opportunities policies for women and men
NEW RIGHT
and
FUNCTIONALISTS
aim social policy is to remove involvement of state in people's lives, encourage self help and conformity
INTERPRETIVISTS
sociology should not link to social policy
NEW RIGHT THEORISTS
state should have minimal involvement with social problems, encourage individual responsibility instead
MARXISTS
sociologists' involvement in in social policy would be useless, social problems for WC only overcome by proletariat revolution
RADICAL FEMINISTS
women's emancipation can only be achieved by dismantling patriarchy, social policy centred around family encourages stereotypical roles