Topic 5- Subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom Flashcards
What does subjectivity mean
Sociologists are part of the society they are studying and that their own values and beliefs will affect the research
What theorists take a subjective approach
Feminists and interpretivists
What data does a subjective approach use
Qualitative data
What does objectivity mean
Researchers approach topics with a complete open mind, detachment and distance from those being researched
Which theorists agree with objectivity
Positivism
What data do objective theorists prefer
Quantative data
Who argues that sociology should be value free
Comte and Durkheim
What does Comte say
Regarded sociology as the ‘queen of sciences’ and saw sociologists as latter-day priests
Who says sociology can be value free
Positivists
What did positivists do
Made up of social structures and social facts which could be separated from the values of the researcher
What was Durkheims study of
Suicide
Who says a value free sociology is not possible
Weber
What were Webers 4 stages
-Values as a guide to research
-Data collection and hypothesis testing
-Values in interpretation of data
-Values and the sociologist as a citizen
Whats Webers sharp distinction between
value judgements and facts
Who comes up with value freedom as an ideology
Gouldner
