Value Freedom & Commitment

Value Freedom & Commitment

1. Funding & Careers

   • Most sociological research is funded by other parties that aren't the sociologist.
   • Common funding sources are government departments, businesses & voluntary businesses.
   • The body that pays for the research usually controls the direction of the study in what it does/doesn't ask.
     • Sociologists work can easily end up embodying the values & interests of their paymasters.
     • Funding body can block publication of research if the findings aren't what they want.
   • How the sociologist wants to further their careers & reputation can influence their choice of topic, research question & analysis of findings.
     • Some sociologists may censor themselves if they believe their findings could potentially damage their career prospects.
   • In university departments, sociologists are likely to be put under pressure to publish research regardless of quality.
   • Gouldner
     • All research is inevitably influenced by values, the sociologists or funding parties.

2. Perspectives & Methods

   • Different sociological perspectives can be seen as embodying different assumptions & values about how society is/should be.
     • Examples:
       • Feminism - Society is based on gender equality & promotes the rights of women.
       • Functionalism: Sees society as harmonious & supports conservative values that favour's OG norms
   • Chosen perspective influences what the sociologist chooses to research, the concept they develop, & conclusions they reach.
     • Example: Functionalists conclude inequality is good for society, Marxists conclude it's exploitation by the rich.
   • Link between sociologists methods & value-stance.
     • Interactionalists preference for qualitative methods show their desire to empathise w/ the underdog, as it gives them access to their meanings.
     • Functionalist & Positivist preference for quantitative official methods show their tendency to side w/ the establishment & those in power.
     • So even if certain groups (modern positivists) say they don't use values, they do.

3. Objectivity & Relativism

   • - Objectivity & Relativism

4. Committed Sociology

   • - Committed Sociology

5. Modern Positivists

   • - Modern Positivists