objectivity and values

Question 1

What are values in sociology?
What are they influenced by?

Answer 1

Beliefs, opinions (bias?)
Infuenced by class, gender, ethnicity, upbringing

Question 2

How do positivists and interpretivists disagree on how sociology can be studied with values
Why?

Answer 2

Positivists- sociology can be studied values free because its objective
Interpretivists- sociology cannot be studied values free because it is subjective

Question 3

What is one way interpretivists argue that sociology cannot be free from values

Answer 3

Funding
Most research is funded by someone other than than the sociologist
The funder often controls the direction research takes and the questions they do or do not ask
Sociologists work is likely to embody funders values
Sometimes, funders may block publication of research if they do not agree with the findings, especially since most funders are in government and business departments

Question 4

What is one way positivists argue that sociology can be free from values

Answer 4

Desire to appear scientific
Science is concerned with facts, not value
Sociologists should remain morally neutral, their job is to establish the truth of peoples behaviour, not judge

Question 5

Alternatively, what does Weber argue about sociology being values free?

Answer 5

Sociology cannot be free from values during research process, but can be free when collecting data
E.g. Research may show that divorcees have higher rates of committing scuicide, this does not demonstrate the value that we should make divorce harder to obtain
This value needs to be explicitly stated
*A value can be neither proved or disproved by facts
E.g. value that everyone has the right to commit scuicide