Values in Sociology

Question 1

values - subjectivity

Answer 1

sociologists are a part of the society they’re studying
their values/beliefs affect the research
impossible to be completely detached

Question 2

values - subjectivity (why will there always be personal judgement & interpretation?)

Answer 2

researchers choose what to research

Question 3

values - subjectivity (who is it associated with?)

Answer 3

interpretivist

feminists who favour qualitative data

Question 4

values - subjectivity (why is it necessary to have personal involvement?)

Answer 4

to understand respondents meaning

Question 5

values - objectivity

Answer 5

researchers must approach topics with an open mind and complete detachment

Question 6

values - objectivity (why is objectivity used?)

Answer 6

so the findings is uninfluenced by subjective influences

provide unbiased knowledge

Question 7

values - objectivity (who is associated with?)

Answer 7

positivist who favour quantitative data

external to the researchers own views

Question 8

values - competing positions in the values debate

Answer 8

• sociology should be and can be value-free
• sociology cannot be vale-free
• sociology should not be value-free, even if possible

Question 9

values - the mid position

Answer 9

sociology cannot avoid values having some influence but these must not affect the research/data