Subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom notes
● Subjectivity is judgment based on individual personal impressions, feelings an opinions
rather than external facts.
● Objectivity is judgement based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by
emotions or personal prejudices.
● Value freedom is the notion that social research should not be influenced by the
researcher’s beliefs and ideas. It is particularly associated with the positivist approach in
sociology.
● Value-laden are statements that make reference to something being good or bad in
some way, or are biased by someone’s judgement of what is good or bad.
● Value committed – a value committed sociologist is one who seeks to link academic
work to a vision of a better world.
● All members of society have values, beliefs and opinions
● Some people argue that it is possible and desirable for sociologists to keep their
subjective opinions out of the research
● Some argue that staying value-natural is impossible because the sociologist are human
and they are studying different aspects of society
● Some say that it is desirable for sociologists to use their subjective values to improve
society
Value freedom
- Value freedom occurs when sociologists ensure that their own personal views/ideologies
do not affect the way their research is conducted or the research outcomes.
- Some sociologists argue that staying value free is impossible because sociologists are
humans studying other humans. Some even go so far as to say that it is desirable to use
their values to improve society.
- The debate is between positivists who believe that value free sociology is possible and
desirable against interpretivists who believe it is not possible and not desirable.
Value free sociology is possible and desirable – positivism
- Comte and Durkheim argue that the aim of sociology is to discover the truth about how
society works and uncover the laws that govern society.
- ^sociologists can say with scientific certainty what is best for society, improving human
life and solving social problems.
- Positivists argue that their own values are irrelevant to their research because science is
concerned with matters of fact and not value, so sociology should remain morally
neutral.
Value free sociology is possible and desirable – Marx
- Marx saw himself as a scientist and believed he had discovered the truth about the
future of society, seeing it as a classless communist society where everyone would be
equal and free to achieve their true potential.
● Subjectivity is judgment based on individual personal impressions, feelings an opinions
rather than external facts.
● Objectivity is judgement based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by
emotions or personal prejudices.
● Value freedom is the notion that social research should not be influenced by the
researcher’s beliefs and ideas. It is particularly associated with the positivist approach in
sociology.
● Value-laden are statements that make reference to something being good or bad in
some way, or are biased by someone’s judgement of what is good or bad.
● Value committed – a value committed sociologist is one who seeks to link academic
work to a vision of a better world.
● All members of society have values, beliefs and opinions
● Some people argue that it is possible and desirable for sociologists to keep their
subjective opinions out of the research
● Some argue that staying value-natural is impossible because the sociologist are human
and they are studying different aspects of society
● Some say that it is desirable for sociologists to use their subjective values to improve
society
Value freedom
- Value freedom occurs when sociologists ensure that their own personal views/ideologies
do not affect the way their research is conducted or the research outcomes.
- Some sociologists argue that staying value free is impossible because sociologists are
humans studying other humans. Some even go so far as to say that it is desirable to use
their values to improve society.
- The debate is between positivists who believe that value free sociology is possible and
desirable against interpretivists who believe it is not possible and not desirable.
Value free sociology is possible and desirable – positivism
- Comte and Durkheim argue that the aim of sociology is to discover the truth about how
society works and uncover the laws that govern society.
- ^sociologists can say with scientific certainty what is best for society, improving human
life and solving social problems.
- Positivists argue that their own values are irrelevant to their research because science is
concerned with matters of fact and not value, so sociology should remain morally
neutral.
Value free sociology is possible and desirable – Marx
- Marx saw himself as a scientist and believed he had discovered the truth about the
future of society, seeing it as a classless communist society where everyone would be
equal and free to achieve their true potential.
