Objectivity And Values

• Values (in this context) refers to ideas and beliefs that the researcher holds.

  Sociologists are divided about whether it is possible to stop one’s values interfering with research.
• Positivist

  Positivists believe that sociology can and should be free from values.

  This is because they believe it studies empirical and objective social facts.
• Weber

  Weber agrees with positivists to an extent.

  He agrees that research itself can be objective and free from values…

  But argues that sociologists will always use their values in choosing their research topic and identifying concepts.

  He therefore says sociology can be value relevant
• Interpretivist

  Interpretivists believe that the nature of sociology means that values will always influence research.
• Howard Becker believes that the best thing a researcher can do, is clearly state all values they have in their research.

  This allows the audience to be aware of their values and consider for themselves how the research may have been impacted.
• Postmodernists believe in relativism, which in simple terms is the idea that all major theories are based on values and assumptions, and are therefore not true.This would mean that postmodernism is also based on values and assumption and also isn’t true!