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.
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?
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.
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.
Sociologists researchers first make ontological assumptions. That is to say, they decide what they are studying or what should be studied. They decide what the subject matter consists of and the meanings behind it. They must consider the social reality and the nature of being, in relation to the subject matter.
Conley, Dalton. You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist. 2nd ed. New York, New York. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2011. Print.
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.
Sociology, as a form of science, is therefore also criticized for making scientific studies a means to an end unto themselves, as well as for not recognizing the importance of the individual.
Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber are all important characters to be studied in the field of Sociology. Each one of these Sociological theorists, help in the separation of Sociology into its own field of study. The works of these three theorists is very complex and can be considered hard to understand but their intentions were not. They have their similarities along with just as many of their differences.
“Religion is a ritualized system of beliefs and practices related to things defined as sacred by an organized community of believers.” (Basirico et.al. 379). Religion is an important element in the society because it influences the way individuals act and think. It has shaped the relationship and bonding among families as well as influenced the decision made in economics and politics. Religion in general has contributed to shape a society and a government structure which will influence the way the individuals under certain governmental structure behave. Sociologists are interested in religion mainly because religious belief is heavily rooted in individuals’ lives and it helps sociologists to interpret human’s actions, expression, and experiences. Due to its significance in society, sociologists try to study religion in depth to explain and understanding religions beyond science. Supernatural belief, which is the core of religion, cannot be explained using science which relies only on facts and data. According to Emile Durkheim, religion consists of three elements, a system of beliefs and practices, a community or church, and sacred things which are common throughout all religions. Although a lot of people may have thought that sociological studies in religion will undermine one’s faith towards their beliefs, in my opinion, sociological perspective in religion will have no effect on one’s faith toward their beliefs.
Both ideas which had been differently well developed by Comte and Saint-Simon. Durkheim's holism approach said that sociology should focus on and study large social operations and cultures. He used functionalism, an approach of studying social and cultural phenomena as a set of interdependent parts, to find out the roles these institutions and processes play in keeping social order. Because of this importance in large social processes and institutions, Durkheim's sociology can be described as macro-sociological as compared to a micro-sociological, which takes it's starting point at the individual. Durkheim's main purpose was to give sociology a professional and scientific standing like other traditional social sciences. In order to do this, Durkheim argued that it was essential to clearly state the domain or area of study for sociology. He said that sociology's concern was with the social. This section of the social should be separated from the area of psychological and the individual.
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.
Research is an attempt to know new things, facts, information etc. in a scientific manner. L.V Redman and A.V .H Mory have stated “systematised effort to gain knowledge we call re-search.” The main function of research is to collect new facts, information etc and to establish new theories on the basis of these facts.
To Quote Anthony Giddens: "Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behaviour as social beings. The scope of sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street up to the investigation of world-wide social processes“(1989). Gidden’s statement describes sociology as a study that helps us understand our own behaviour as human beings in a social word. Sociologist study everything from the interaction between people in the street to the interaction between different countries. Sociologists aim to study how societies have changed over, how societies are structured and organized, the norms of society. It’s also important to understand that not all sociologists agree with each other, Sociologists often debate with one another to prove/disprove certain theories and concepts. By studying Sociology is it helps us analyze social conflicts on a micro and macro scope. Through a macro level, we can study large-scale social organization and large social categories it also examinees social processes and patterns society as a whole. We can analyze individuals much deeper on a micro level. This way we study a human by face-to face interactions. Its important as humans to understand the way our society came together and the reasons to how elements work and function together. Sociology gives us a deeper
Durkheim is a highly influential name to remember when thinking of sociology. Durkheim’s mission was to develop sociology so it could be defined and to develop a method on how sociology should be used. Durkheim’s main concern in his career was primarily associated with how societies might preserve their integrity and rationality within modernised society, when things such as shared religious views and ethnic backgrounds are seen as things of the past. In relation to Durkheim’s social realism his concern was with the growing individualism in society. Durkheim argues that we are in an era which is imperfectly moving towards a morality based on individualism as “Durkheim regarded individualism as a collective representation, a force that would impress itself on human minds regardless of their subjective opinions, as well as the manifestation of the egotistical will”. (Mestrovic 1988: 8).