Quinn believes that social science research should be value-free. To which type of research would she most likely subscribe?
A) positivist social science
B) interpretive social science
C) critical social science
D) All these answers are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Positivist social science seeks to establish objective knowledge based on empirical evidence, and to do so, it attempts to minimize the influence of the researcher's values, beliefs, and biases. Therefore, Quinn's belief that social science research should be value-free aligns with the positivist approach.

Answer: D) All these answers are correct.
 While Quinn's preference for value-free research aligns with positivist social science, it does not necessarily exclude her from subscribing to other types of research as well. Interpretive and critical social science, for example, recognize that the researcher's values and perspectives play a role in shaping knowledge production, and they may embrace this subjectivity instead of seeking to eliminate it. As such, Quinn's belief could theoretically fit with a range of research approaches.

Quinn Believes That Social Science Research Should Be Value-Free