Debate - Is Sociolgy Value Free

Question 1

What did Durkheim say - positivist

Answer 1

• Should be value free
• so it could offer solid solutions to sociological problems
• Attempted to explain suicide using fixed measure believed that if that could be explained these issues could be resolved

Question 2

What did Marx say - positivist

Answer 2

• should be value free
• similar to Durkheim, believed that by using scientific methods to understand the basis and nature of the capitalist system he could plot a way to reach ideal communist society

Question 3

What did gouldner say - interpretivists

Answer 3

• should not and cannot be value free
• believed if sociologists tried to be value free, it can lead to them carrying out studies with damaging results
• he said value free sociology was
  
  • impossible - because people can never fully abandon their values, they will be influenced by their perspective ( feminist etc ) or the body paying got their research
  • undesirable - because without guiding values, sociologists will only sell their work to the highest bidder

Question 4

What did Myrdal say - interpretivist

Answer 4

• should not be
• agreed with gouldner, believed that sociologists should not only use their values in their research but should actively take sides and try to use their research to tackle specific issues
• views are similar to Marx but does not believe in achieving those aims by trying to make sociology a science

Question 5

What did Weber say

Answer 5

• can be but should not be value free
• believed if we ignored the way in which people interpret the stimuli which affect them then we sacrifice a real understanding of how and why people act
• Weber believed sociologists needed to involve themselves in the process of verstehen ( putting themselves in another persons position ) in order to understand the significance of their actions
• Weber also believed that values are important in terms of how select and carry out studies our values:
  1. Help us decide what to study
  2. Must be kept out of data collection ( no leading questions )
  3. Must be declared when analysing data ( eg if you are a Marxist you must declare that you may be interpreting the facts in a way which suits the Marxist world view )
  4. Must urge us to take responsibility for the outcome of our studies