Value freedom

What are values in sociology?

• Independent way to judge the truthfulness of views
• Sociology should espouse the values and interests of certain groups
• Sociologists reacting to political, economic, and social events and issues
• Beliefs, opinions, prejudices influenced by class, gender, ethnicity, etc.

What is the positivist position on value freedom?

• Sociology should stay objective and value-free
• Sociology cannot be value-free
• Sociology should espouse the values and interests of certain groups
• Sociology should be driven by the desire to expose the injustice of patriarchy

What is the value-laden sociology perspective?

• Value-free sociology is impossible and unsociological
• Sociology should reflect the values of political power
• Sociology should focus on areas where values do not influence the research process
• Sociology should take the side of the underdog

What is the Weberian perspective on value freedom in sociology?

• Sociology should be based entirely on values and political opinions
• Data collection should be objective, but the interpretation of data depends on individual values
• Sociology should strive for objective and unbiased data collection and interpretation
• Sociology can have elements of value freedom, but not completely

What are the areas where sociology can be value-free according to Weber?

• Data collection

• Choice of topic

• Interpretation of data

• Sociology should strive for objective and unbiased data collection and interpretation

According to positivists, how should sociology be conducted?

• By following the objective experimental methods of natural sciences

• By recognizing the complex nature of open systems and multiple variables

• By developing a single fundamental belief system

• By producing testable hypotheses

Which sociological thinker argued for the idea of falsification in science?

• Popper
• Durkheim
• Weber
• Marx

What is the key principle of a scientific paradigm according to Kuhn?

• Accumulating data through careful observation and measurement
• The idea of falsification
• The existence of social facts that govern society
• A basic framework of assumptions, principles, and methods

According to the realist perspective, is sociology considered a science?

• It depends on the definition of science
• Yes, it follows the same principles as closed systems in natural sciences
• No, sociology cannot be classified as a science
• Yes, it is capable of producing testable hypotheses

How do interpretivists view the relationship between sociology and science?

• Sociology cannot and should not be a science
• Sociology can be a science if it develops a single fundamental belief system
• Sociology should follow the objective experimental methods of natural sciences
• Sociology can be a science if its theories and statements can be tested and falsified