Value Freedom Debate

Value Freedom Debate

1. What Does It Mean?

   • Free from criteria imposed by subjective values.

2. POSITIVISTS

   • - believe that sociology SHOULD BE value free, as long as the methods used are similar to those of the natural sciences; in order to give impartial objective value-free information.
   • COMTE + DURKHEIM:
     • * not only should sociology be value-free, it could be could be value-free. This can be achieved through the seperation from subjective views and values of the researchers. * sociology should be value free in order to give the subject the status and authority that would enable it to be regarded as a source of impartial, objective information.
       • * believe that sociological research is worth doing because it provides a means for what they see as improving society in some way and resolving social problems.
   • WEBER:
     • * a value can neither be proved not disproved by the facts - they belong to different realms. * Weber sees value as relevant to the sociologist in choosing what to research, interesting the data collected and in deciding the use to which the findings should be put.

3. Is It Impossible?

   • GOULDNER argues that it is not possible to be free from value judgements in sociology. Value-freedom is in-fact a value-laden concept. Sociologists should not try to be value-free.
   • BECKER argues no knowledge is value-free and knowledge is value-free, and all knowledge must favour somebody - thus we have to choose who to favour.

4. INTERPRETIVITS

   • * believe society is socially constructed by the actions of individuals, who act in the ways they do because of the meanings and interpretations they give to their behaviour. The only way of discovering these meanings and producing valid data is to collect qualitative and quantitative data through close involvement with those being researched, and by a process of subjective interpretation of what those meanings and intereptations are.