Value Freedom

Question 1

What is the definition of value free?

Answer 1

The values and beliefs of the researcher do not enter the research proves and affect the results

Question 2

What does value freedom mean in terms of social variables?

Answer 2

Means that conclusions are independent of any social variables, subjective elements of personal desires

Question 3

How do feminists argue that sociology should fight for disadvantaged groups?

Answer 3

Argue sociology has not been value free as it has been male stream

• need to expose this male dominance and overcome patriarchy
• research should involve women

Question 4

How does Becker argue that sociology should fight for disadvantaged groups?

Answer 4

Sociology as traditionally been on the side of the powerful - we need to see the world from the view of the underdog
= will generate new questions and ideas

Question 5

Why can value free methods be beneficial?

Answer 5

Can be used so personal, theoretical or political views of the reacher do not affect the research
- can be replicated and open to critical evaluation

Question 6

How does Kuhn suggest sociology is inevitably value laden?

Answer 6

Due to paradigms which influence research + the evaluation of conflicting findings

Question 7

How do research funds mean sociology is inevitably value laden?

Answer 7

The values of those who provide the funding determine the direction of sociological research

Question 8

What is sociologies real purpose?

Answer 8

To change society and describe how it can and should be different = cannot be value free

Question 9

How do positivists value freedom is possible and desirable?

Answer 9

Suggest sociology should be no different from studying the physical sciences

Question 10

How does the subject matter make value freedom more difficult in sociology?

Answer 10

Respondent also have values, attitudes and beliefs which may influence how they behave and act while being studied

Question 11

How can sociologists, due to being people, not be value free?

Answer 11

We all have values and beliefs which influence what we do and think
- we should declare them so others can judge what we say in the light of knowing what out values/biases are

Question 12

How does Goldner suggest sociology is inevitably value laden?

Answer 12

We are all influenced by ‘domain assumptions’ (basic assumptions about social life and the nature of society
= such assumptions affect the research methods chosen and the types of questions asked

Question 13

How are positivists not objective?

Answer 13

By using particular methods in effect simply impose their definition of the social world in terms of the questions they ask and don’t ask

Question 14

How might interpretivist methods be more objective than positivist?

Answer 14

Less likely to contain preconceptions, less subjective, biased or distorted

Question 15

What are the most ‘value-free’ methods?

Answer 15

Those such as observation which allow the reacher to see the social world directly

Question 16

How do Marxists argue that sociology should fight for disadvantaged groups?

Answer 16

Argue the role of sociology is to uncover ways in which society works in the interest of the r/c = capitalism can be changed as people become aware of their exploration

Question 17

What is the social acts argument?

Answer 17

Sociologists as social actors must have valued and be influence by them - this does not mean that there can be no rational debate and that research findings are mere subjective interpretations

Question 18

What was the founding fathers beliefs?

Answer 18

• Comte and Durkheim wanted value freedom and felt it was possible
• Wever acknowledge that the choice of topic was subjective but how they look can be done objectively

Question 19

How do Postmodernists suggest sociology is inevitably value laden?

Answer 19

• criticise the view that rational, scientific thinking supported by evidence is superior to any other way of understanding the world
• suggest it is impossible to produce any objective value free knowledge = knowledge/facts are simply the view of one social group

Question 20

Hobbs research on minor crime and policing in East London was value laden, what is an advantage and disadvantage of this?

Answer 20

• Advantage: allowed him to gain valid data = gained insight and built rapport with police
• Disadvantage: Only studied a limited number of place so its not reliable