In the past it was generally taken for granted that the goal of social research was the production of objective knowledge; and that this required a commitment to value neutrality. In more recent times, however, both these ideals have come to be challenged, and it is often argued that all research is inevitably political in its assumptions and effects.In this major contribution to the debate, Martyn Hammersley assesses the arguments from the classic and still influential contributions of C. Wright Mills, Howard Becker and Alvin Gouldner to the present day. He concludes that the case for partisanship is not convincing, and that an intelligent and sceptical commitment to the principles of objectivity and value neutrality must remain an essential feature of research.
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It is often argued that all research is inevitably political in its assumptions and effect. Hammersley assesses all the arguments from the classic contributions to the debate - C. Wright Mills, Becker and Goulder - to the present.
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Introduction 1. Taking sides in social research: an assessment of the rationales for partisanship 2. Between Weber and Marx: C Wright Mills on the role of the sociologist 3. Whose side was Becker on? Questioning epistemological and political radicalism 4. Against Gouldner: the myth of a partisan sociology 5. Methodological purism: Anatomy of a critique 6. Bias in Social Research (with Roger Gomm)
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780415202879
Publisert
1999-11-04
Utgiver
Vendor
Routledge
Vekt
362 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, UP, P, 05, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
208

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Martin Hammersley is Professor in Educational and Social Research at the Open University