Question

Seeking two individual responses to the following posts below.

Discussion Question:

Empirical social science research must remain value free. This position is practical and preserves the objectivity of the social sciences (Ciaffa, 1998). Explain your understanding of the above statement using examples from your specific area of social science specialization

Post #1:

The above statement in my view, highlights that the research of social science, should be conducted without the inclination of the researcher’s own values (such as personal, political and or religious) beliefs, interfering with the research process. In essence the research should be evidential based and factual. For example if Psychologist have to make a diagnosis the diagnosing they would have to examine the signs and the symptoms exhibited by the patient to derive at the prognosis. That prognosis must be based on the studies conducted whereby the relevant evidence is obtained to substantiate such prognosis and hence, the methods of treatment can be administered. The conclusion arrived at as the result of inquiry and investigation should be independent of race, culture, colour, occupation, religion and political predisposition of the investigation. If the Psychologist is expected to be truly objective, then it must be independent of any subjective elements or any personal desire that the Psychologist may have. Neuman (2014) highlights a number of characteristics associated with positivism, one of which is that, Social Science should be value-free and objective. Being objective is to uncover truths about the world. To uncover the truth about the world, one must aspire to eliminate personal biases, prior beliefs, and emotional and personal involvement. This could be done through quantitative data, which is not subjective, such as using official statistics. These are usually analyzed to discern patterns and establish causation. (Notes) Having read (Ciaffa, 1998) and Max Weber cited in (Coser, 1977) (Max Webers Concept of value Free Research) I came to the conclusion that in order for sociology to make a significant contribution to society, it need to be free from personal opinions, experience and biasness, otherwise it is unlikely to be taken seriously or have an impact on society or social policy.

Post #2

Empirical research is defined as any research where conclusions of the study is strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence, and therefore “verifiable” evidence (Bhat, n.d.). Thus empirical research is based on observed and measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experience rather than from theory or belief. (Penn State Library, 2020). Considering the nature of psychology, which is the study of the mind and how it influences behavior, value-freedom is critical but I am not certain that it is attainable. Bierstedt, cited by Haralambos & Holburn (1991 p.948) posits that objectivity means that the conclusions arrived at as the result of inquiry and investigation are independent of the race, color, creed, occupation, nationality, religion, moral preference, and political predisposition of the investigator. That is to say that, if we are to arrive at the truth, then we must divorce those preconceived notion that we hold dear. It is difficult, as humans, to hold unbiased views on issues we feel strongly about. Even in the face of evidence, that contradicts our view, we steadfastly hold on, as if the evidence were irrelevant, and we, incapable of being objective
For the past two months at least, we have been bombarded with scenes of racial injustice pervasive in the United States and indeed the around the world. For example, as a black psychologists, I may want to find out whether these injustices had an effect on black children’s sense of safety. I remember watching a video of a black child playing basketball in his yard and hiding behind his parents vehicle when he saw an approaching police car. Straight away, I have already formed a judgement, because of the child’s reaction, and my own adverse reaction to the many instances of racial injustice that I have seen. Yet, the statement, is requiring, that for my research to be taken seriously, I must put my aside my blackness and all other factors that may adversely affect the outcome of my research. Although I see the critical need for objectivity, I question to what extent researchers can truly divorce themselves from the study.

Answer 1

The two posts give two different opinions. Individual response summary shall be highlighted as follows

1. It is always good to go ahead with the research process in social science that is bias-free. This concept is never applicable to all scenarios. It is applicable only in those researches where many scholars have already done research on a hypothesis and we are trying to find the actual truth behind the same. In this scenaro, the objective approach is the one that would allow our research to be highlighted than a subjective one. However, if the research topic in social science is new of its kind, then bias is definitely expected.

2. We can totally agree with the fact that our personal bias is very much difficult to be separated from other research studies. This is because, most of the topics in social science will have ourselves as a participant and must have experienced the outcome similar to the research participants. This is the similar scenario explained here and we are likely to take research outcome supporting ourselves than being subjective.