Objectivity and Values

Question 1

What are values?

Answer 1

They are important to us and will often guide our actions

Question 2

What type of sociologists believe sociology should be value free?

Answer 2

• Positivists

Question 3

What two sociologists talk about research being value free?

Answer 3

Comte and Durkheim; values should be kept out of research and remain objective

• If we mimic scientific approaches to research sociology will appear as a more respectable and academic discipline.

Question 4

What is progressivism?

Answer 4

• If we are value free, we can progress in our research for the creation of a better society and testing hypothesis.

Question 5

What does it mean if something if value laden?

Answer 5

• Values are partially included within the research.

Question 6

Who believes research should be value laden?

Answer 6

• Interpretivists such as Weber, believe values should have a presence in research, but not always.

Question 7

What are Weber’s 4 steps to research and when do we include values?

Answer 7

1. Values as a guide: values guide us on what aspects of society we want to study.
2. Data collection and hypothesis testing; value free when it comes to data collection otherwise the data could we unethical.
3. Values within interpretation of the data: Drawing conclusions depends on the sociologists perspective and therefore, their values should we included.
4. Values and the sociologist and as a citizen: Should not hide behind their research and be held morally accountable as to what their research is being used for.

Question 8

What type of sociologists believe values should we fully instilled in the research?

Answer 8

• Committed Sociologists; values should ultimately be enforced to better society, whether that is the values of the funding body or the values of the underdog.