What are
some of the reasons for `objectivity’ being more complicated in
social sciences, particularly disciplines like sociology?
What are some of the reasons for `objectivity’ being more complicated in social sciences, particularly disciplines like sociology?
Objectivity
means being unbiased, neutral or based on facts alone.
(i)
In case of social science, especially sociology, objectivity becomes
more complicated because, like every human, there are some notions
perceived by sociologists which make it difficult for him/her to
study the culture and norms of a different society in a neutral
manner. This can lead to incorrect research.
(ii)
The sociologist who is conducting a research can also get biased if
the issues are related to his/her society and can imply his/her
personal notions to that study. Hence, despite of being reflexive
there are chances of unconscious
bias.
(iii)
There are many versions of truth in the social world. A boy and an
old person would have different notions on a particular thing. A
shopkeeper and a customer would have different ideas regarding the
‘good price’ of a product. Thus, there is no universal
truth in social sciences, making them difficult to arrive at a
conclusion.
(iv)
Sociology is a ‘multi-paradigmatic’ science. There are
different schools of thought that sometimes contradict each other. As
a result, ‘objectivity’ becomes complicated in social
sciences, especially sociology.
Objectivity means being unbiased, neutral or based on facts alone.
(i) In case of social science, especially sociology, objectivity becomes more complicated because, like every human, there are some notions perceived by sociologists which make it difficult for him/her to study the culture and norms of a different society in a neutral manner. This can lead to incorrect research.
(ii) The sociologist who is conducting a research can also get biased if the issues are related to his/her society and can imply his/her personal notions to that study. Hence, despite of being reflexive there are chances of unconscious bias.
(iii) There are many versions of truth in the social world. A boy and an old person would have different notions on a particular thing. A shopkeeper and a customer would have different ideas regarding the ‘good price’ of a product. Thus, there is no universal truth in social sciences, making them difficult to arrive at a conclusion.
(iv) Sociology is a ‘multi-paradigmatic’ science. There are different schools of thought that sometimes contradict each other. As a result, ‘objectivity’ becomes complicated in social sciences, especially sociology.
