Objectivity And Values

Question 1

Why does Durkheim believe that research should be value free?

Answer 1

Durkheim would argue that sociology can be objective
- sociology’s job is to uncover the truth about how society works (social facts)
- this truth needs to be objective to ensure scientific certainty

Question 2

Why does Becker believe research should be value laden?

Answer 2

• sociologists should take the side of the underdog.
• as if only the powerful and the radicals are represented we lose the social reality of the voiceless

Question 3

Why does gouldner believe research should be value laden?

Answer 3

• if we dont have values in research then research only ends up being done on behalf of the people funding it
• instead research should suport those fighting against higher powers

Question 4

Why does Weber believe research should be value laden?

Answer 4

1- values guide our research (feminism and women’s oppression)
2- values enter our interpretation (causes of oppression differ in Marxism and feminism)
3- we should try and remain unbiased in our hypothesis
4- we should let bias influence what we do with our research to prevent misuse

Question 5

Why do postmodernists believe research should be value laden?

Answer 5

• there is no such thing as truth
• objectivity itself is a value
• every person sees the world in their own way
• there is no way of judging one truth is truer than another. Any attempt to do so is an attempt to create a metanarrative

Question 6

Who believes research should be value laden?

Answer 6

Becker
Gouldner
Weber
Postmodernists

Question 7

Who believes research should be value free

Answer 7

Durkheim

Question 8

What is autoethnography?

Answer 8

• method of qualitative person storytelling (autobiography) with studying culture (ethnography)
• uses researchers own experiences to understand bigger cultural ideas
• the researcher is the only participant and learns about their culture and themselves

Question 9

What is standpoint theory?

Answer 9

• a feminist theoretical perspective
• argues that knowledge stems from social position
• denies tha traditional science is objective and suggests that research and theory have ignored marginalised women and feminist ways of thinking