The Values on Sociological Research of Value Free Sociology, Value Laden and Committed Sociology
Sociologists vary in their opinions on the effect of values on
research. Value free sociology is an opinion in sociology, started by
Emile Durkheim, that states that sociology should be seeking to use
methodology similar to that used in the physical sciences. One of the
key elements in their methodology to make it similar to the physical
sciences is objectivity. These positivists state that their values
have no effect on their research and that this should apply throughout
sociology. They argue that if a study is well planned it is possible
for the researchers personal beliefs to have no effect on the
findings. They argue that the nature of sociological research is no
different to that of any of the physical sciences, they are studying
and measuring a set of totally independent phenomena and constructing
and testing hypothesis as to the cause of this phenomenon. Positivists
also refer to social facts. These are the statistics obtained from
surveys and official publications. According to O’Connell Davidson and
Layder the personal views of the researcher are never relevant in
sociological research, and they point to the accuracy of opinion polls
on a range of subjects to display the accuracy of their surveys.
A second group of sociologists believe that weather objectivity is
desirable or not, it can never be achieved within sociology. They are
known as value laden sociologists. They also claim that sociologists
who argue that the subject is value free are doing it a dis-service.
They point to a number of issues to support their views. Gouldner has
pointed out that value free sociology points to Max Weber as a
sociologist who claimed that personal views never enter sociological
research. However Gouldner suggests that his words must be placed into
a historical context as he was living under an oppressive government
that frowned on intellectual freedom. They also point out that it is
impossible for sociology to be considered value free when we look at
the matter of funding.
Emile Durkheim is largely credited as the man who made Sociology a science. As a boy, he was enraptured by the scientific approach to society, but at that time, there was no social science curriculum. Vowing to change this, Durkheim worked scrupulously to earn his “degree in philosophy in 1882”. (Johnson 34) Unable to change the French school system right away, Emile traveled to Germany to further his education. It was there that he published his initial findings and gained the knowledge necessary to influence the French education system. Emile Durkheim is a distinguished and well versed man who, through his work, established a platform for other sociologist to build on.
Durkheim is called one of the two principal founders of the modern phase of sociological Theory. He is stablished that brought him work for the analysis of social systems. The framework Remain the central to Sociology, a few related anthropologies. Durkheim was born in the town of Epinal. He was of Jewish percentage, some of his friends were rabbis. He was expected to be a rabbi but he became an agnostic. In 1886, there have took a year leave to study in Germany, where he was impressed by the psychologist Wundt. The ham was concerned with how societies could maintain the integrity and coherence in modern society.
Sociaologist have alway attacked problems and anylized social issues that occur over long periods of time or short period of times. These ocurences usually show a trend or a pathway rather to how it has led up to a certain point of an issue occurring, or just a trend in the interaction of different groups, ethnicities, race, and culture. These anylizations differ from issue to issue, such as a micro level analysis of small social patterns to a macro level analysis of large social patterns. The foundation of sociology is based on three theoretical perspectives which are, the conflict theory, functionalism, and lastly symbolic interactionism. Being compared and contrasted in this essay will be the conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY Take Home Exam One Questions 5 and 6 By Shylynn E. Calbert MW 5:45-7pm DR. FORD 5. Discuss abortion using applications of Durkheim?s conception of social facts. How would Durkheim research the issue and explain it in sociological terms?
Adding to earlier strain theories from theorist like the French Emile Durkheim, who is considered one of the fathers of sociology because of his effort to establish sociology as a discipline distinct from philoso...
In sociology, there are three names you will always hear, Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Each are successful sociologist, they have made many significant contributions to the development of sociology. While all being enlightenment thinkers, each of them have their own distinguish perspective and focuses in their respective theories. Durkheim, a structural functionalist, argued everything in society exist for a purpose, and that society are bounded together by ideas and social unity, social solidarity. Weber focused on rationality and bureaucracy, he believes they are key element to modern society and he is interested to understand how people feel. Marx is primarily study society with economic perspectives, focused heavily on inequality among classes
Understanding societies is often times unpredictably variable and subject to the people that they are comprised of. There is no one single way of studying human behavior, given how complex and multidimensional interpretations can be. Although there is no one approach that is correct by itself, sociologists are still able to draw on multiple theories of sociology to better understand social behavior and human groups. This paper intends to discuss five major perspectives that contribute to a multi-faceted approach to understanding the core concepts of sociology. It will compare the similarities and differences amongst functionalism, conflict theory, feminism, queer theory, and interactionism.
In this assignment I will be describing why the concepts of values are important to me as a student social worker. The three values that I will be discussing throughout this essay with examples provided are; respect, confidentiality and being honest and trustworthy.
Critics could say that this definition of objective definition may revel Bierstedt own values of patriarchal bias that he expresses in his own work. Both Comte and Durkheim held that sociological research could be performed objectively if scientific methodologies are applied. Marx also agreed that social research could be performed objectively if science methodologies are applied, but held very different views about society to Comte and Durkheim. =
To get a sense of this imperative role that religion plays in defining sociological behavior; we need to take a look at the beginnings of modern academic sociology. We see that it began with analysis of religion, as seen in Emile
one another. Sociologists look at these groups by means of the sociological perspective. This involves looking at a certain behavior like it has never been looked at it before. When done right one can come to a deeper level of understanding about behavior.
Comparing Weber's and Durkheim's Methodological Contributions to Sociology This essay will be examining the methodological contributions both Durkheim and Weber have provided to sociology. It will briefly observe what Positivists are and how their methodologies influence and affect their research. It will also consider what interpretative sociology is, and why their type of methodology is used when carrying out research. It will analyse both Durkheim's study of Suicide and also Webers study of The Protestant work ethic, and hopefully establish how each methodology was used for each particular piece of research, and why. Emile Durkhiem, in sociology terminology is considered to be a Functionalist, in addition to also being a Positivist, however, strictly speaking, Durkheim was not a Positivist.
Sociologists develop theories to explain and analyze society at different levels and from different perspectives. Sociologists study everything from the micro level of analysis of small social patterns to the “big picture” which is the macro level of analysis of large social patterns.
My mission is to live each day positively in God’s eyes, honestly and passionately so that every day I am one step closer to reaching my dreams and helping others believe in theirs. I will be committed to inspiring others to be more than they think that they can be and I will be a continual learner committed to excellence in all aspects of life.
Parsons, Talcott. (1938). The Role of Theory in Social Research. American Sociological Review. 3(1), 13-20.