Objectivity and values

Question 1

What are the early positivists views on values and objectively?

Answer 1

• Comte & Durkheim> creation of a better society was not a matter of subjective values or personal opinions
• shared view of enlightenment< sociology’s job was to discover the truth about how society works, uncovering the laws that govern its functioning
• sociologists should do this objectively allows them to say with scientific certainty what is best for society

Question 2

What is Weber’s view on objectivity and values?

Answer 2

• Weber introduced a more nuanced perspective by drawing a clear distinction between facts and values
• e.g. Research may show that divorcees are statistically more prone to suicide, this is a factual statement based on empirical evidence
  However, concluding whether divorce laws should be made stricter is a value judgment
  Weber argued that value judgments cannot be “proven” by facts—they belong to a separate domain > despite this distinction, he still saw values as playing an essential role in sociological research
• He argued that sociologists:
• Can and should separate facts from values in their research
• values may influence the choice of research topics and interpreting data, but sociologists should strive to avoid imposing their own values when collecting results e.g. no leading questions when conducting a interview
• he argues that sociologists should take a reflexive approach when interpreting results > spelling out our values so that others can see unconscious biases & take responsibility for the effects of their work

Question 3

Evaluation of Weber’s view on values in research

Answer 3

• Feminists > argue that the claim to value freedom in data collection can conceal patriarchal bias e.g. Oakley critiques traditional male dominated methodologies as pretending to be neutral while ignoring women’s experience
• Marxists like Gouldner > argue Weber underplays how deeply values are embedded in the structure of knowledge production > claims that many sociologists are ‘spiritless technicians’ who ignore how their work serves the dominant capitalist ideology

Question 4

What are the modern positivists view on values?

Answer 4

• they tended to argue that their own values were irrelevant to research due for two key reasons
• the desire to appear scientific > argues that science deals with ‘is’ & not ‘ought’ questions, sociologists should remain morally neutral in order for sociology to appear as rigorous and objective like the natural sciences
• the social position of sociology > according to Gouldner sociologists became ‘problem takers’ who worked for businesses or governments, helping solve their problems > they avoided controversy, didn’t challenge authority & excluded values making a gentleman promise that they would not rock the boat> because they were simply hired hands they saw their values as irrelevant

Question 5

What does committed sociology argue about values?

Answer 5

• argue that value free sociology is a myth and that researchers must be honest & open about their values > espousing the values and interests of particular groups
• they argue that it is impossible to be value free as the sociologists own values or those of their paymasters are bound to be reflected in their work
• it is also undesirable because without values to guide research, sociologists are merely selling their services to the highest bidder