Objectivity and value freedom
Debate about whether sociology can/should be objective: positivists argue for value-free science; interpretivists argue all knowledge is value-laden; some argue for transparency about values.
Real World
When sociologist Howard Becker studied jazz musicians rather than corporate elites, Gouldner argued this 'whose side are you on?' choice itself reflected a value position — proving Weber's ideal of value freedom is unachievable in practice.
Exam Focus
Distinguish value freedom (influencing findings) from value relevance (choosing what to study); Weber accepted the latter, rejected the former.
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