Values in Research

• What does value freedom in sociology mean?

  Personal views do not affect research outcomes
• Why do some sociologists argue that value freedom is impossible?

  Because sociologists are humans studying humans
• What is the main debate regarding value freedom in sociology?

  Whether it is possible and desirable or not
• What do early positivists believe about sociology?

  • Aim to discover objective truths about society
  • Uncover laws governing society
  • Science is concerned with facts, not values
• Who are two early positivists mentioned?

  Comte and Durkheim
• How do positivists view their own values in research?

  They consider them irrelevant to research
• What do positivists claim about objectivity in sociology?

  It is possible by following experimental logic
• What type of data do positivists focus on?

  Quantitative data
• How do positivists ensure their research remains neutral?

  By using quantitative methods with little bias
• How did Durkheim use official suicide rates?

  To establish an objective theory of suicide
• What role does Weber assign to values in sociology?

  Values help select research topics
• How do feminists use their values in research?

  To study women's oppression and patriarchy
• What do interpretivists argue about objectivity in sociology?

  • Sociologists cannot be objective
  • Value-free research is not desirable
  • Personal ideologies influence research choices
• What do interpretivists claim about quantitative data?

  It inevitably involves bias and values
• How are suicide statistics viewed by interpretivists?

  As influenced by social actors' decisions
• What do interpretivists believe about data analysis?

  It involves subjective choices and interpretations
• What do positivists argue about the lack of objectivity?

  It threatens reliability and validity of results
• What does Becker state about values in sociology?

  All sociology is influenced by values
• How does Becker suggest sociology should support the underdog?

  By identifying with them through qualitative methods
• What criticism does Gouldner have of Becker's approach?

  Becker takes a sentimental approach to underdogs
• What does Gouldner argue sociology should do?

  Take the side of those fighting back
• What does Gouldner criticize about sociology in the 1950s?

  It became a 'spiritless' discipline
• What does Gouldner say about sociologists' roles?

  They hire themselves out to solve problems
• Why do some argue sociology should not be value free?

  • Values are integral to research choices
  • Qualitative methods reveal meanings and feelings
  • Non-scientific approaches yield valid data
• What do interpretivist feminists Dobash & Dobash focus on?

  Women's experiences of domestic violence
• What does feminist Oakley argue about research participation?

  Active participation builds trust with subjects
• What do positivists believe about sociological research?

  It should be value free for certainty
• What do positivists claim about the outcomes of scientific research?

  It produces generalizable and replicable data
• What do positivistic researchers claim about crime trends?

  They can generalize and predict patterns
• What is the postmodernist view on truth in sociology?

  • No absolute or objective truth exists
  • Multiple truths must be understood
  • Rejects superiority of any single account
• What do postmodernists argue about knowledge?

  All knowledge is uncertain and subjective
• What is triangulation in sociological research?

  Using both quantitative and qualitative methods
• How can research be both value free and value laden?

  By combining quantitative and qualitative methods
• What are the sample questions for A-level sociology exams?

  • Arguments for sociology not being value free
  • Arguments for sociology being value free
  • Evaluate sociologists' commitment to the underdog