Philosophy

Values are very important in all scientific processes. They are involved from the initial stage of deciding to perform science, selection of projects, the choice of method to solve the problem, the characterization and interpretation of the obtained data, and to the final stage of drawing conclusions.
There are two roles of values direct and indirect roles. The difference in role is central to the understanding of values in reasoning throughout the scientific process (Douglas, 2009, p. 96).Direct roles gives evidence and this gives reason to accept a claim outlined in a theory. This means that they influence a decision making process and leads us to a certain choice. They do this by adding value to an intended option or outcome and either make one to accept or dismiss an option. In this case therefore, uncertainty is irrelevant to the importance of value in judgement. It is leading because it knows the outcome and only seeks to know if this outcome is what is desired. On the contrary, indirect evidence determines the importance of the inductive gaps left by the evidence (Douglas, 2009, p. 96). It promotes integrity of the task. Indirect role of values come in handy where the evidence available is lacking or is not there at all which means that uncertainty prevails. Its function is now to determine if this available evidence is enough or not. It thus helps one to make a decision in accepting or rejecting the claim on basis of the current level of uncertainty. Note that values can not be used as evidence and therefore can not be used as reasons to accept claim.  A good example to illustrate this is the reason why people check the oil and water level in their cars before setting on long distances they do this because of the consequences involved.
Heather Douglas (2009) says, in cases of politicized science, the norm against a direct role for values in the decisions about empirical claims is violated (p.113). This is because scientists sometimes change their interpretations or suppress their findings in order to satisfy their authorities. These are cases of direct roles in play at the wrong places. The results are being dictated to what people think or want. The Diethylstilbestrol (DES) discovered in 1938 that acted like oestrogen was an example of a politicized science though there were reasons to believe it was risky in pregnant women particularly for causing birth defects and crossing the placental barrier, it was still used as to prevent miscarriages in women.