AQA A2 Sociology Unit 4 - Crime and Deviance - Values Debate

Values are beliefs, opinions and prejudices

• Sociology, like science, should be value free
• Sociology cannot be value free as human nature isn't like that
• Sociologists should draw on their values in the aim of improving society
• Committed Sociology

Classical Sociology (Value Freedom)

• Comte and Durkhiem see sociology as a science, uncovers the truth about society
• Debate whether Marx was a positivist = scientist with the aim of improving society

Weber 4 stages of research

• Selecting what to research - Values in
• Data collection and testing - Values out
• Interpretation of data - Values in ( Theoretical framework)
• Responsibility of the effects of the research -Values in 

Committed Sociology

• Gouldner - Spiritless technicians, hiring themselves for research (No moral responsiblity) 
• Myrdal - Openly take sides due to values 

Cannot be value free due to;

• Impossible - research and who they work for is determined by values
• Undersirable to work value free - Services at the disposal of the highest bidder

Becker - Underdog

• Openly sides with the powerless of society
• Traditionalist views side with the powerful
• AO2 - Gouldner - Marxist approach to ending oppression

Funding and Careers - These influence values = government or voluntary groups as funders

Perspective 

• Feminist see society as male dominated 
• Functionalists see inequality as good for society 
• Marxists see inequality as bad 
• Postmodernists take a relativist view on society

Relativistic view

• No single objective truth
• Everyone has different values and beliefs that influence

Early Sociologists = Objective