Sociology / Unit 2 Soc 0143 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Value Neutrality
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The idea
Value neutrality, Max Weber's Wertfreiheit, holds that empirical science can establish what is but cannot by itself establish what ought to be, so findings must not smuggle in value judgments.
In practice
A researcher convinced a program works must publish the result showing it does not.
Where people slip
Neutrality governs the reporting, not the choice of question — choosing what to study is never neutral.
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