1. Objectivity & Subjectivity

2. Value freedom v Value relevance
Value freedom is the idea that all bias should be eliminated from research
Only then can it be seen as objective
But values are complex and can effect what a researcher chooses to study
This is value relevance
The theoretical perspective adopted by the sociologist has values and assumptions that may influence the purpose of the research
Relate this to Ann Oakley’s work

3. Durkheim v Weber Positivism v Interpretivism
Sociology should study observable phenonema
Relationships between social facts should be measured
Social inquiry is no different from natural scientific inquiry
Quantitative methods should be used to acquire objective data
The validity and reliability of this data should stand up to scrutiny
Sociology involves the understanding of social action
No value judgements should be made as to whether the actions are good or bad
Sociologists should interpret action from a value-laden perspective
Different concepts would be formed because of pre-existing values
Once a concept is generated, objectivity is possible

4. Values in the research Process
Objectivity can be difficult to achieve as values can enter the research process at different stages
Choosing a topic
Obtaining funding
Choosing a method
Selecting questions
Recording responses
Interpreting findings
Selecting findings to use in report
Deciding what the research will be used for

5. Therefore, is Sociological research a subjective process?
Modern Interpretivists would argue that sociology cannot be objective or value free
People are social actors and have subjective motivations
And make sense of the world through interpretations of meanings
Society is the product of everyday social interaction
Qualitative methods allow insight into meanings and motives

6. Howard S Becker
Becker believed that it was impossible to carry out research that is uncontaminated by personal and political beliefs
We can never avoid taking sides because behaviour should be analysed from the viewpoint of those being studied
However it is crucial that sympathies should not render the research invalid
Therefore the limitations of the research should be clearly stated

7. Political Alignment
Much Sociological theory can be placed on a spectrum from left to right
The political nature of some theories means that they cannot be value free
Marxism and feminism can be described as committed Sociology where Sociology cannot be neutral
Their theories and research aims to bring about social change and therefore can be seen as politicised

8. Political Aims
Because feminists are committed to social change for women, they may misinterpret women’s real experiences to fit in with their political aims
They may impose on women their value of liberation
By focusing on the oppressed group, they fail to reveal the standpoint of the oppressors
This bias cannot be seen as value-free
However feminists make no such claim

9. Social Constructionism
Social Constructionists suggest that Sociologists should question concepts and categories that people use to understand the social world
They are critical of “taken for granted” knowledge
Concepts and categories are relative to specific historical times and cultures
Knowledge is not the product of objective observation but is socially constructed through discourse (Burr 1995)

10. Social constructionism and Subjectivity
This theory indicates that sociology cannot be value-free
It is bound up with particular discourses and values
There can be no objective truth because truth varies with historical and cultural context
This makes research problematic
If all knowledge is relative, how can one piece of research be more objective than another?
Postmodernists don’t think it can

11. Conclusion
Gomm (2004) argues that sociology cannot avoid values as society is made up of values
Sociologists are members of society and they cannot avoid the influence of their cultural beliefs on their work
Gouldner (1962) describes “value-free Sociology as a myth” as research is influenced by “domain assumptions”
Domain assumptions are basic assumptions about social life and the nature of society
Sociologists therefore need to bring their assumptions and values into the open so that others are aware of possible bias
This is an issue of integrity if research findings are to be used in policy making and fed back into cultural beliefs

12. Summary Questions
What is the difference between value freedom and value relevance ?
Outline views that suggest that Sociology cannot be value – free
Why would Postmodernists believe that research cannot be objective?