A-Level Sociology (AQA)

Topic Summaries

Sociological perspectives and debates in sociology

Objectivity, subjectivity, and values in research

  • Debates about the role of values in sociological research.
    • Positivism: research should be value-free and objective.
      • Funding sources and researcher bias can still influence findings. 
    • Interpretivism: values are unavoidable and can guide topic choice and interpretation.
      • Risks distorting data through bias.
    • Gouldner: sociologists should be value-committed and challenge inequality.
      • Critics argue this undermines scientific credibility.

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