value relevance

value relevance

the doctrine that sociological research topics will inevitably and rightly, often be chosen for their ‘ethical interest’, but that this need not prevent the researcher from seeking OBJECTIVITY within the particular frame-of-reference adopted.

The doctrine is especially associated with Max WEBER in association with his conception of VALUE FREEDOM AND VALUE NEUTRALITY (senses 2 and 4). This means that he identified three stages in the overall relation between values and sociological research:

  1. a researcher's values often influence the choice of topic;
  2. this need not prevent objective research, e.g. research establishing the empirical importance of particular values such as the PROTESTANT ETHIC; but
  3. the outcome of any research never amounts to the outright justification of particular values. See also FACT-VALUE DISTINCTION.