Subjectivity, objectivity & value freedom

• Comte/Durkheim


  Sociology’s job is to discover the truth about how society works by uncovering the laws that govern the functioning of society

  Scientific sociology would be able to objectively say what is best for society
• Marx


  Believed that his method of analysis would reveal the line of human development and show the proletariat how to reach communism
• Weber


  Values are important in the research process and can’t be avoided

  Choosing a topic is based on what we see as important

  Data collection should be value free
• Myrdal


  Researchers will always have their own values which are needed to guide research
• Becker


  Sociologists should be more compassionate and give the ’underdogs‘ a voice to reveal the reality of society
• Goffman


  Sociologists having empathy with the disadvantaged means that they will favour a research method that allows them to study this group in detail