Values Theory and Methods

Personal Beliefs, experiences,morals and political bias

CAN - Its possible

SHOULD - It is desirable

CANT - Its impossible

SHOULDNT - It is not desirable

CAN 100% be value free & SHOULD be too

DURKHEIM AND COMTTE = Positivists and believe society should be studied scientifically

Society is like the naturalworld.We can studyit scientifically and establish and observe social facts

METHODS

PRE-PLANNED &STANDARDISED

CLOSED QUESTIONAIRES

STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Values are a MUST as a guide to research but must remain value free in terms of data collection and analysis

 Topic, Method and Sample.

 Research should start off with values as we all have our own beliefs and morals however when analysing and collecting data we should remain value free to prevent bias.

Value Laden is the idea that sociology CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be value free as naturally people have their own beliefs/morals. Believe its IMPOSSIBLE.

Gouldner and Career Trajectories - a dog eat dog society. People will do research that reflect their area of work naturally to get more of a reputation in their field.

Plummer and Personal Beliefs - Plummer did the Queer Theory and believes people will naturally do more research on issues that affect them Directly. E.g - Plummer Studying gay people.

Funding Bodies - Research has their own paymaster they have an agenda and can also dictate what you research.

Believe that VALUE FREEDOM IS A MYTH. It is not only IMPOSSIBLE but it is NOT DESIRABLE either.

Howard Becker talked about giving minority groups a voice and power. He believes in actively taking the side of the underdog. 'OUTSIDERS' of society.

MARXISTS. FEMINISTS. LABELLISTS. LEFT REALISTS. = Committed Sociologists.

METHODS

OPEN QUESTION QUESTIONNAIRES

UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

They want Empathy and to build a rapport to truly understand whats going on