value free

• value free


  research studied objectively without values
• comte


  positivist- sociology is the 'queen of sciences
• Durkheim


  studied issue of suicide objectively through statistics

  drawer correlations from different countries, religions, marital status

  looked to observe social facts
• positivists


  argue that their own values are irrelevant to their research because science is concerned with matters of fact
• criticisms of Durkheim

  • used values in research - close friend of Durkheim had committed suicide
  • Douglas - judgements were subjective based upon coroner's interpretation
• Marx

  • debate on whether or not he was a positivist
  • however did see himself as a scientist
  • he believed his method of historical analysis, historical materialism, could reveal the line of development of human society. 
  • argued his scientific approach will enable to proletariat to see the exploitation they face and eventually overthrow capitalism
  • he sees science as helping to ‘deliver’ the good society.