Values in Research | Sociology for A Level - Year 13 PDF Download

Subjectivity, Objectivity, and Value Freedom

Subjectivity

• Subjectivity involves making judgments influenced by personal biases. 
• Sociologists, as members of the society they study, inevitably bring their own values and beliefs into their work.

Subjectivity in Sociology

• Subjectivity is often embraced by feminists and interpretivists, who emphasize the importance of personal involvement and close interaction with the individuals being studied.

Objectivity

• Objectivity is a hallmark of scientific disciplines. In sociology, being objective means conducting research free from personal biases or opinions.
• This approach is closely tied to positivism and relies on quantitative methods.

Value Free

• Value-free sociology, advocated by positivists, insists that research should be entirely free of personal biases and values. 
• Sociologists should focus solely on observable facts, mirroring the methods of natural sciences.

Emile Durkheim

• Positivist thinkers like Durkheim viewed sociology as a science of society that must adhere to scientific principles to establish credibility. 
• Sociology’s role, according to Durkheim, was to identify social issues and address societal problems through scientific research. 
• His study of suicide, based on trends in official statistics collected scientifically, was considered value-free.

Value Relevance

Max Weber argued that sociology cannot be completely value-free and introduced the concept of value relevance. He broke down the research process to show where subjectivity and objectivity come into play.

• Weber believed sociologists use their subjective feelings to select research topics and relevant concepts. 
• However, they must strive for objectivity during the research process itself.

Choice of Topic Area

• When choosing a research topic, sociologists select areas that align with their interests, making this stage inherently subjective due to the influence of personal values.

Data Collection and Hypothesis Testing

• This stage of research can remain objective if the researcher chooses. 
• Weber agreed with positivists that objectivity should be maintained during data collection and hypothesis testing.

Interpretation of Findings

• The interpretation of research findings is inevitably shaped by a value-based theoretical perspective, making this stage subjective.

Value Laden and Value Committed

• Value-laden research implies that sociologists are burdened by their values, which they cannot fully escape. 
• Value-committed research involves using values to drive social improvement.

Value Laden

• Value-laden research acknowledges that sociologists’ values influence their work, often due to external factors like funding or personal motivations.

Funding

• Research funders, or "paymasters," often have their own agendas, imposing their values on the research process.

Alvin Gouldner

• Gouldner argued that sociologists may choose research topics to advance their careers, selecting subjects that gain attention within the sociological community.

Plummer

• Ken Plummer contended that personal beliefs are inseparable from a researcher’s conscience. 
• He was drawn to topics like queer theory to explore issues tied to his own identity, highlighting the role of personal values in research.

Value Committed

• Howard Becker advocated for value-committed sociology, where researchers use their influence to amplify the voices of marginalized groups and drive social change.

Using Values for Better

• Becker believed sociologists should support the underprivileged, or "underdogs," and use their values to foster positive societal change.