Can and Should sociology be value free? debate

Question 1

what are the four parts to this debate?

Answer 1

-can
-should
-can’t
-shouldn’t

Question 2

what does the can debate mean?

Answer 2

value freedom, possible to be free of personal, economic and political biases

Question 3

what does the should debate mean?

Answer 3

value relevant, values should act as a guide to research only

Question 4

what does the can’t debate mean?

Answer 4

value laden, value freedom is a myth, it is impossible

Question 5

what does the shouldn’t debate mean?

Answer 5

committed, need to pick a side and be fully committed to participants

Question 6

what are some examples that are important in choosing when it comes to research?

Answer 6

-research topic
-research method and sampling technique
-how to record responses
-which finding to include in report
-what report will be used for and where it will be published
-who to seek for funding body

Question 7

who said that sociology can be value free?

Answer 7

positivists

Question 8

explain why sociology can be value free?

Answer 8

-it is possible to remove values, just like science
-crucial role= remain objective to scientifically discover what is best for society
-eg= Durkheim objectivally studied suicide rates

Question 9

what is the evaluation of sociology being value free?

Answer 9

-to what extent?
-can be driven by values or becoming credible/famous
-eg- Andrew Wakefield, only studied 12 children, with 8 parents showing concerns, beliefs spread significantly, funding bodies were lawyers for parents

Question 10

who said that sociology should be value free?

Answer 10

Weber
=cannot be 100% value free but can be value relevant

Question 11

explain how sociology should be value free/is value relevant?

Answer 11

-sociologists use subjective feelings to identify a research topic/concepts that are relevant
-must be objective in how they conduct research research and how they interpret findings

Question 12

what is the importance of sociology being value-relevant?

Answer 12

they research society to make it better and guide others research
they have no shared paradigms, so their evidence and findings need to be free from bias and manipulation, so that they are open to screwtiny from other researchers

Question 13

what is the belief surrounding the fact that sociology can’t be value free?

Answer 13

value laden= full of value

Question 14

what are the three points surrounding value laden, and who came up with these?

Answer 14

1- who pays for research (Gouldner)
2- career trajectories (Gouldner)
3- personal beliefs (Plummer)

Question 15

explain who pays for research?

Answer 15

-those who fund have an agenda
-sociologists hired as ‘problem takers’ who fix problems (leading to pressure)
-funding bodies are pay masters and so own the research, and control it

Question 16

what is an example of a funding body?

Answer 16

Andrew Wakefield, £50,000 funding from parents who were worried about MMR

Question 17

what was the impact of having a funding body?

Answer 17

tempted to manipulate findings to fit what research is trying to find

Question 18

explain career trajectories?

Answer 18

-becoming successful in their field
-have ambitions, career goals, desire to be published/promoted, renowed in field
-social construction involved

Question 19

what is the impact of career trajectories?

Answer 19

removes objectivity to achieve goals so leads to manipulation (removes results that go against)

Question 20

explain personal beliefs?

Answer 20

-drawn to certain research areas
-desire to explore something important to them
-eg= Plummer, queer theory

Question 21

what did Plummer say about personal beliefs?

Answer 21

‘in a sense I was actually exploring my own life side by side with exploring sociological theories.’

Question 22

who said that sociology shouldn’t be value free?

Answer 22

Becker (not desirable)

Question 23

what did Becker say about that sociology shouldn’t be value free?

Answer 23

the idea of value freedom should be abandoned, and instead should be value committed?

Question 24

explain value committed?

Answer 24

-encourages sociologists to think ‘whos side are we on?’
-actively take side of disadvantaged, become voice of marginalised groups (need us to be), become voice of the underdog
-if we are going to be committed, whose side are we on.

Question 25

what is the solution of value freedom in sociology?

Answer 25

-finding should be open, honest and clear (about values) and how values affected research
-helps decide how credible research is

Question 26

what is committed sociology according to Becker?

Answer 26

only if we give a voice to the deprived can we bring about a meaningful change (not achieved by being objective)