Chapter 1.3 - Mrs. Lewis`s Sociology Wiki
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Transcript Chapter 1.3 - Mrs. Lewis`s Sociology Wiki
CHAPTER 1: THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Objectives:
Explain the role of values in social research as
prescribed by Weber, and the ensuing
controversies over whether sociological
research can be and/or should be value free.
Distinguish between Weber’s “Verstehen”, and
Durkheim’s “social facts”; Explain how, despite
differences, both can be used together in social
research
WARM IT UP…
Using your whiteboard:
Write your definition for the term “values”
VALUES IN SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH…THE DEBATE
Values: the standards by which people define what is
desirable or undesirable, good or bad, beautiful or
ugly.
What are the proper purposes and uses of
sociology?
side 1: goal should be simply to advance
understanding of social life and present findings to
the world
side 2: goal should be to investigate social issues
that harm people and try to spearhead reform
movements
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WEBER’S VIEWS ON VALUES IN SOCIOLOGY
Max Weber thought Sociology should be value
free (personal values or biases should not
influence social research)
Wanted Objectivity (total neutrality)
Values in research = Bias in findings
Must have replication (repeating a study in
order to test its findings) to “weed out” any bias
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Within your group discuss the following
questions:
Should values play a role in Sociological
research?
Is there a place for values in research?
VERSTEHEN
Verstehen—German word used by Weber, to
understand, to have insight into someone’s
situation
must understand subjective meanings
(meanings that people give their own behavior)
must understand how people view and explain
their own behavior to truly understand why they
do what they do
Walk in their shoes
SOCIAL FACTS
Social Facts—Durkheim’s term for a group’s
pattern of behavior
External to the individual
examples: June is the most popular month for
weddings, suicide rates are higher among the
elderly, more births occur on Tuesdays than on
any other day of the week
use social facts to interpret social facts
TAKE A GUESS…
On your white board give your hypothesis:
Why do you think June is the most popular month
for weddings in the United States?
Once you have your hypothesis share with your
group
VERSTEHEN AND SOCIAL FACTS
Verstehen and Social Facts reinforce one
another
Sociologists use Verstehen in order to interpret
social facts
take a set of facts, apply Verstehen to
them to gain insight that goes beyond
statistics
FOR NEXT WEEK…
Find 1 Article/Blog Post/Commentary about any social problem/issue that
you want. Email me the link ([email protected]) and a 1 page
summary and reflection of the piece.
--DUE BEFORE CLASS ON TUESDAY (be prepare to share on Tuesday in
class)
--Example Google Doc
Group Content Presentations
--Sociologists and their Contributions
--Possible Choices:
--Auguste Comte
--Herbert Spencer
--Karl Marx
--Emile Durkheim
--Max Weber
Each group will pick a Sociologist, research them and their major contributions to
Sociology, then create a lesson to present to the class.
--Pre-record or Live record?
--Class interaction
--5-7 minutes in length