Objectivity & SubjectivityObjectivity & Subjectivity

Value freedom v Value relevanceValue freedom v Value relevance

• Value freedom is the idea that Value freedom is the idea that all bias should be eliminated all bias should be eliminated from researchfrom research

• Only then can it be seen as Only then can it be seen as objectiveobjective

• But values are complex and But values are complex and can effect what a researcher can effect what a researcher chooses to studychooses to study

• This is value relevanceThis is value relevance• The theoretical perspective The theoretical perspective

adopted by the sociologist has adopted by the sociologist has values and assumptions that values and assumptions that may influence the purpose of may influence the purpose of the researchthe research

• Relate this to Ann Oakley’s Relate this to Ann Oakley’s workwork

Durkheim v WeberDurkheim v WeberPositivism v InterpretivismPositivism v Interpretivism

• Sociology should study Sociology should study observable phenonemaobservable phenonema

• Relationships between Relationships between social facts should be social facts should be measuredmeasured

• Social inquiry is no Social inquiry is no different from natural different from natural scientific inquiryscientific inquiry

• Quantitative methods Quantitative methods should be used to acquire should be used to acquire objective dataobjective data

• The validity and reliability The validity and reliability of this data should stand of this data should stand up to scrutinyup to scrutiny

• Sociology involves the Sociology involves the understanding of social understanding of social actionaction

• No value judgements should No value judgements should be made as to whether the be made as to whether the actions are good or badactions are good or bad

• Sociologists should interpret Sociologists should interpret action from a value-laden action from a value-laden perspectiveperspective

• Different concepts would be Different concepts would be formed because of pre-formed because of pre-existing valuesexisting values

• Once a concept is Once a concept is generated, objectivity is generated, objectivity is possiblepossible

Values in the research Values in the research ProcessProcess

• Objectivity can be difficult to Objectivity can be difficult to achieve as values can enter achieve as values can enter the research process at the research process at different stagesdifferent stages

• Choosing a topicChoosing a topic

• Obtaining fundingObtaining funding

• Choosing a methodChoosing a method

• Selecting questionsSelecting questions

• Recording responsesRecording responses

• Interpreting findingsInterpreting findings

• Selecting findings to use in Selecting findings to use in reportreport

• Deciding what the research will Deciding what the research will be used forbe used for

Therefore, is Sociological research Therefore, is Sociological research a subjective process? a subjective process?

• Modern Interpretivists would Modern Interpretivists would argue that sociology cannot argue that sociology cannot be objective or value freebe objective or value free

• People are social actors and People are social actors and have subjective motivationshave subjective motivations

• And make sense of the And make sense of the world through world through interpretations of meaningsinterpretations of meanings

• Society is the product of Society is the product of everyday social interactioneveryday social interaction

• Qualitative methods allow Qualitative methods allow insight into meanings and insight into meanings and motives motives

Howard S BeckerHoward S Becker

• Becker believed that it was Becker believed that it was impossible to carry out research impossible to carry out research that is uncontaminated by that is uncontaminated by personal and political beliefspersonal and political beliefs

• We can never avoid taking sides We can never avoid taking sides because behaviour should be because behaviour should be analysed from the viewpoint of analysed from the viewpoint of those being studiedthose being studied

• However it is crucial that However it is crucial that sympathies should not render sympathies should not render the research invalidthe research invalid

• Therefore the limitations of the Therefore the limitations of the research should be clearly research should be clearly statedstated

Political AlignmentPolitical Alignment

• Much Sociological theory can Much Sociological theory can be placed on a spectrum from be placed on a spectrum from left to rightleft to right

• The political nature of some The political nature of some theories means that they theories means that they cannot be value freecannot be value free

• Marxism and feminism can be Marxism and feminism can be described as committed described as committed Sociology where Sociology Sociology where Sociology cannot be neutralcannot be neutral

• Their theories and research Their theories and research aims to bring about social aims to bring about social change and therefore can be change and therefore can be seen as politicised seen as politicised

Political AimsPolitical Aims

• Because feminists are Because feminists are committed to social change for committed to social change for women, they may misinterpret women, they may misinterpret women’s real experiences to women’s real experiences to fit in with their political aimsfit in with their political aims

• They may impose on women They may impose on women their value of liberationtheir value of liberation

• By focusing on the oppressed By focusing on the oppressed group, they fail to reveal the group, they fail to reveal the standpoint of the oppressorsstandpoint of the oppressors

• This bias cannot be seen as This bias cannot be seen as value-freevalue-free

• However feminists make no However feminists make no such claimsuch claim

Social ConstructionismSocial Constructionism

• Social Constructionists Social Constructionists suggest that Sociologists suggest that Sociologists should question concepts and should question concepts and categories that people use to categories that people use to understand the social worldunderstand the social world

• They are critical of “taken for They are critical of “taken for granted” knowledgegranted” knowledge

• Concepts and categories are Concepts and categories are relative to specific historical relative to specific historical times and culturestimes and cultures

• Knowledge is not the product Knowledge is not the product of objective observation but is of objective observation but is socially constructed through socially constructed through discourse (Burr 1995)discourse (Burr 1995)

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

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

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?