Objectivity and freedom

Question 1

KEY WORDS

Answer 1

value freedom:studying a social issue in a way that doesn’t allow any of their personal feelings to impact on research

objectivity: free from bias
neautrality: reamaining im particle

Question 2

Objectivity is impossible in sociology

Answer 2

Weber:
-rejects view that it’s possible for objectivity in research
3 key reasons:
1)Sociologists study things they are personally interested in
-choosing what to study will be highly subjective and not free from values at all
EXAMPLES:crime,class inequality
2)Most sociologists are affiliated with a research perspective
-shapes the research they will pursue ans the methods they prefer to use
EG-feminism, functionalism
3)How a sociologist interprets data will be influenced by their values
-judgement shaped by the values they possess
EG-equalities in achievement some will say it’s down to material factors whilst others say cultural factors

Question 3

Objectivity is undesirable in sociology

Answer 3

Gouldner:
-objectivity is impossible but also undesirable
-sociologists today who use the subject as a step up into professional research have become spiritless technicians:lost passion for the subject+gathering information in exchange for money
-in the past sociologists we’re ‘problem makers’ but today problem takers
EXAMPLE:marxists and feminists in the past used their social positions to challenge the status quo and aimed to bring about change in society by shifting the positions of power from group to another
-sociologists work for those in power,doing research which maintains their position->dampened the spirit of sociology