Value Freedom

Question 1

What is value freedom?

Answer 1

• Refers to the ability of the researcher to keep their own values from interfering with the research process
• Facts should not be influenced by the researcher’s own beliefs which is a central aspect of science
• Sociology can and should be value free which is the same as saying sociology can and should be scientific

Question 2

What do positivists believe about value freedom?

Answer 2

• Comte and Durkhiem regarded sociology as a sicence and therefore research should be value free
• Positivits believe that sociology can be value free because they are uncovering objective laws of how social systems work which exist independently from the researcher observing them
• The researcher is uncovering social facts that exist irrespective of the person who is observing
• Value-free social research is crucial because the objective knowledge that scientific sociologe could uncover a good society which could be applied to improve society
• Research should aim to be scientific or value free because it is unlikely to be taken seriously or have an impact on social policy
• Value free is also objective which is to uncover truths about the world therefore needing to eliminate personal biases or prior beliefs

Question 3

What do interpretivists belief about value freedom?

Answer 3

• Gomm argues that a value free sociology is impossible as the very idea is unsociological. Sociologists react to political, economic and social events which are seen as social problems which is dependent on the power of different groups to define and shape reality. It is important to look at what sociologists do not investigate also due to ideological hegemony
• Gomm argues that social research has social and moral implications which therefore has a political nature. They cannot seperate themselves from the consequences of their findings as it is an evasion of responsibility. Gomm suggests that when a sociologist attempts to ‘divorce’ themselves from their own values to be scientific, they become a professional sociologist merely adopting another set of values. They would argue that positivts version of value free is just an unwitting commitment to the values of the establishment. Values have not actually disappeared from social sciences rather the social scientist has become indetified with the going values of the establishment the values appear to have disappeared
• Gouldner suggests the principle of value freedom has dehumanised sociologists as they have betrayed themselves and sociology to gain social and academic respectability instead of caring where there research is used
• Becker argues that the task of the sociologist is to simply choose sides and which interests sociological knowledge should serve. Sociology should side with the disadvantaged

Question 4

What do Feminists believe about value freedom?

Answer 4

• Feminists are critical of the value-free scientific claims of malestream sociology as it is at best sex blind and at worst sexist, this serves as an ideological justification for the subordination of women
• Oakley argues that sociology reduces women to a side issue from the start
• Sociology may claim a detached and impartial view of reality yet it presents the perspective of men
• Some feminists argue we should correct this doing more studies on women
• Sociology is needed specifically by and about women
• A feminist sociology is one for women, one that challenges and confronts male supremacy which institutionalises women’s inequality
• The defining characteristic of feminism is that womens subordination should be questioned and challenged, feminism starts with the view that women are oppression

Question 5

What do the New Right argue about Value Freedom?

Answer 5

• The New Right argue that sociology is not value free but rather left wing propaganda
• Sociology came under criticism for its left-wing bias. Marsland argued that the idea of sociology is a destructive force in British society exaggerating the defects of capitalism and ignoring many benefits
• Sociology is an enemy that influences huge numbers of impressionable people. Sociologists are neglecting their responsibility for accurate and objective description and instead biasing their analyses to contemporary society where people are being influenced by the biased one-sidedness of contemporary sociology
• Marsland argues that many sociology textbooks ignore central features of capitalist economies which are beneficial. They focuses solely on the negative such as alienation and exploitation rather than the enhanced quality of life it provides. It fails to inform studies about the oppressive director of labour in socialist societies