value freedom

value freedom

1. Value laden

   • the researcher values inevitably affect the outcome of the data regardless whether they are conscious of it or not
   • Weber: sociologists should only be interested in the sphere of facts and should try to be as objective as possible
   • Myrdal: sociologists must be open about their values

2. committed sociology

   • sociology shouldn't be value free
   • sociology should challenge inequality and discrimination
   • Becker: sociology should take the side of the underdog

3. post-modernism

   • there are no objective truths
   • Lyotard and Baudrillard: suggest the value freedom debate reflects the vlaues of competing sociolgists