value freedom

• value freedom definition

  refers to the ability of the researcher to keep their own values out of the research process
• positivists in value freedom

  Comte and Durkheim
• positivist view of value freedom


  they regard sociology as a science and thought that social research should and could not be value free and scientific
• where was value freedom shown in positivists research?

  Durkheim's suicide study - quantitative research
• overall positivist conception of value freedom

  positivists believe that sociology can be value free because they are uncovering the 'objective' laws of how society works
• feminism and value freedom

  they are critical of the idea of value free 'malestream' sociology

  Oakley - argues that sociology reduces women to a side issue from the start and only presents the perspective of men

  therefore is subjective to men
• interpretivists - value freedom

  criticise positivist view

  Gomm and Gouldner
• Gomm - value freedom/ interpretivism

  argues that a value free sociology is impossible and that the idea is 'unsociological'

  he argues that social research always has social and moral implications
• Gouldner - value freedom/ interpretivism


  argues that is is impossible to be free from values in social sciences

  he suggests that the principle of value freedom has dehumanised sociologists
• value laden

  refers to research that is influenced by the researchers values, beliefs and morals

  contrasts with value freedom as that aims to stay objective and unbiased