1. Sociology and value freedom: Should sociologists take the side of the underdog
Evaluate the view that sociologists should take the side of the underdog and be committed to changing society

2. Introduction Is it desirable to keep values out of research
Locate the debate: positivists/functionalists vs committed sociology and Marxism

3. Positivists: not desirable- shouldn’t take a side or change society
Based on the desire to be scientific it is concerned with facts not values
Sociologists should remain morally neutral their job is to establish the truth about individuals nature not to judge it
Subjectivity contaminates research
If it doesn’t provide objectivity it wont be taken seriously or have an impact on social policy
This could just be seen as a way to raise the credibility of sociology not to get the best research

4. Functionalists: do not take the side of the underdogs/ shouldn’t change society
Sees society as harmonious and has conservative values that favour the status quo
Side with the powerful- don’t want social instability
If take the side of the underdog it could lead to radical change which they don’t like- too much change could lead to disruption of status quo
Functionalism and positivism tend to take the side of the establishment and the viewpoint of those in authority first with their uncritical acceptance of official statistics produced by the government
Durkheim- suicide
Houlder: (a03): hired hands for government, sociologists also left their morals being and didn’t take responsivity for their research

5. Committed sociologists: becker: undesirable to be objective should change society and take a side
Values are always present, except in the past they have been on the side of the powerful
Argues if you have no values then naturally you take the values of the powerful
Becker criticises functionalism and positivism as having taken the ide of the powerful, distorting our view of social reality
Sociologists should redress the balance by using empathetic methods to give voice to the underdogs as sociologists have moral responsibility as citizens

6. Becker continued
Sociology needs to study and take the side of the less powerful, the less studied and the underdogs like criminals and mental patients and other powerless groups
As it is partly because less is known about these groups and their study needs to be told in order to redress the balance
By identifying with the underdog and giving them a voice, we can reveal previously hidden side of social reality
Goffman: in order to understand the mental patient we need to take their side against the psychiatrist
Gouldner: argues that we should take (Marxist) stance of those fighting the oppressed as Goffman and becker do, but study those trying to end their oppression and unmask the ways the powerful maintain dominance