objectivity and values

• What do objectivity, subjectivity, and value freedom mean in sociology?


  They refer to the impartiality of research, personal biases, and the absence of values in sociological studies.
• What is the main debate regarding the relationship between sociology and values?


  Whether sociology can and should be value-free.
• Why do some argue that sociologists cannot be value-neutral?


  Because sociologists are human beings studying other human beings.
• What do some sociologists believe about using their values in research?


  They believe it is desirable to use their values to improve society.
• What did Comte and Durkheim believe about sociology?


  They believed sociology should discover the truth about society and improve human life.
• How did Marx view his role as a sociologist?


  He saw himself as a scientist who discovered the truth about society's future.
• What distinction did Weber make regarding values and facts?


  He distinguished between value judgments and facts, stating they belong to different realms.
• What role do values play in sociological research according to Weber?


  Values guide research selection, data interpretation, and the use of findings.
• What is the significance of stating values explicitly in sociological research?


  It helps to understand the significance of facts within a theoretical framework.
• How can sociology inform our understanding of values like sexual discrimination?


  Sociology can show that such values may lead to economic inefficiencies.
• What did 20th-century positivists argue about their values in research?


  They argued that their values were irrelevant because science deals with facts, not values.
• What criticism did Gouldner have regarding American sociologists in the 1950s?


  He criticized them for becoming 'spiritless technicians' who avoided moral issues.
• What did Myrdal and Gouldner argue about sociologists and their values?


  They argued that sociologists should identify and openly take sides with their values.
• What question did Becker raise about values in sociology?


  He asked, 'Whose side are we on?' regarding the influence of values.
• How do Functionalists and positivists typically view sociological subjects?


  They traditionally take the viewpoint of the powerful, such as police and psychiatrists.
• What does Becker suggest about the focus of sociology?


  He suggests that sociology should take the side of the underdog, such as criminals and mental patients.
• What is Gouldner's perspective on the role of sociologists regarding the underdog?


  He believes sociologists should help end the oppression of the underdog rather than just describe their lives.
• What criticism did Gouldner have of Becker's view on the underdog?


  He criticized Becker for romanticizing the underdog and not addressing their oppression.
• How does funding influence sociological research?


  Funding bodies may control the direction of research and prevent publication of unacceptable findings.
• How might a sociologist's career aspirations influence their research?


  They may censor themselves or choose topics that further their careers.
• What did Gouldner say about the influence of values on research?


  He stated that all research is influenced by values, affecting topics, concepts, and conclusions.
• How do values influence the choice of methods in sociology?


  Values influence the methods sociologists choose, such as Becker's preference for qualitative methods to study the underdog.
• What does relativism argue about truth?


  It argues that different groups have different views of truth, reflecting their own values and interests.
• What is the post-modernist view on accounts of society?


  Post-modernists believe there are no 'privileged' accounts of society that access the truth.
• From a relativist viewpoint, what is the nature of truth?


  There is no single, absolute truth; what you believe to be true is true for you.
• What do meta-narratives claim about truth?


  They claim to have the truth but are based on values or assumptions.