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 (mlewis@pleasanthillschools.com) 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