Objectivity & Values

Question 1

Positivists

Answer 1

Sociology can be studied free of values because it is objective.
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Myrdal and Gouldber - sociologists should only identify their values, but opening ‘take sides’, espousing the interests of actual groups.
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It is undesirable to be value-neutral.

Question 2

Weber

Answer 2

Sociology can be value-free once the research process has been chosen, but the values need to be explicitly stated.

Question 3

Weber (Values as a guide to research)

Answer 3

Values as a guide to research - we can only select areas of study in terms of their value relevance to us.

Question 4

Weber (Data collection & hypothesis testing)

Answer 4

Data collection and hypothesis testing - sociologists must be objective as possible when actually collecting the facts (eg. not asking leading questions, the hypothesis must succeed or fall solely on whether it fits the observed facts).

Question 5

Weber (Values in interpretation of data)

Answer 5

Values in the interpretation of data - facts need to be set in a theoretical framework to understand their significance. This is influenced by the sociologist’s values, which must be stated explicitly.

Question 6

Weber (Values & the sociologist as a citizen)

Answer 6

Values and the sociologist as a citizen - sociologists are citizens, they cannot dodge the moral issues their work raises or the uses it is put to by hiding behind ‘value freedom’.

Question 7

Interpretivists

Answer 7

Sociology cannot be studied free of values because it is subjective. The sociologist’s values are influenced by:
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Choice of research topic
Choice of method
Funding body