value laden

• Gomm argues that 'a value free sociology is impossible...the very idea is unsociological'

  argues that sociologists react to political, economic and social events - and what is seen as a political or social 'issue', a social problem is dependent on the power of different groups to define and shape reality - to define what is worthy of research

  important to look at what sociologists do, not investigate what they do

  sociologists are not immune to ideological hegemony
• areas where sociology cannot be value free

  • choice of subject or topic - can be subject to not only the values of the researcher themselves but also by those in political power
  • funding - source of funding to complete the research may come with ideological ties to how the data is interpreted
  • methodology - choice of the method can be influenced by the perspective stance that a researcher takes