1. Positivism: is sociology value free/should it be
Yes!!!

2. Why

3. Positivists believe that sociology can be value free because they are uncovering the objective laws of how social systems work- these laws exist independently of the researchers observing them
All the research is doing is uncovering social facts that exist out there in the world – facts that would exist irrespective of the person doing it
Positivists argued that such value free social research was crucial as the objective knowledge that scientific sociology revealed could be used to uncover the principles of good, ordered, integrated society (functionalism), principles which governments could then apply to improve society
Thus research should aim to be scientific or value free because otherwise it is unlikely to be taken seriously or have an impact on social policy
Durkheim: suicide

4. Sees sociology as a science
External forces cause action so isolate the variables, research shouldn’t be involved- detachment
Measure society like a science make predictions with facts
Methods similar to science

5. Weber: the ideal type
He maintains that although values ever into the choice of the topic once the sociologist has chosen their topic they can adopt a neutral framework to carry out their research
He calls this the ideal type – a methodological model which can be applied to a subject in order to carry out value free research

6. Link to functionalism
Sees society as harmonious and espouses conservative values that favour the status quo

7. Modern positivists

8. The desire to appear scientific
Science is concerned with facts and not values, so sociological study should remain neutral, just to establish truths about human behaviour not opinionise it
This could just be seen as a way to raise the credibility of sociology not to get the best research (a03)

9. Social position of sociology: gouldner
Argues that in early 20th century sociologists were seen as trouble makers who challenged authority
By the 50s sociologists were essentially hired hands who worked for the government to solve their problems
Gouldner argues this hired hands role made them remove their own values
Weber argued they also left their morals behind and didn’t take responsibility for their research (a03)