Discuss the challenges faced by social science in proving its credentials as an objective domain of inquiry.
Understand the Problem
The question is discussing the challenges and demands faced by social science in establishing itself as an objective field of study. It touches upon issues related to the separation of values and facts, the reliance on quantitative methods, and the problems of borrowing characteristics from natural sciences. The essence is to explore how social sciences address these challenges.
Answer
Challenges include value influence, methodological parity, and empirical standards.
The social sciences face challenges in proving objectivity due to the influence of values, the difficulty in separating facts from values, and methodological differences with natural sciences. The ongoing discourse involves balancing quantitative and qualitative methods while addressing inherent biases.
Answer for screen readers
The social sciences face challenges in proving objectivity due to the influence of values, the difficulty in separating facts from values, and methodological differences with natural sciences. The ongoing discourse involves balancing quantitative and qualitative methods while addressing inherent biases.
More Information
Social sciences strive to establish objectivity by aligning with empirical methods, yet face inherent challenges such as subjective biases and societal influences. The comparison with natural sciences adds further complexity.
Tips
Common mistakes include oversimplifying the issue by comparing directly with natural sciences without considering social context.
Sources
- Evidence and Objectivity in the Social Sciences - personal.umd.umich.edu
- Problems of objectivity in Social Research - Aleem Akhtar - aleemakhtaramu.weebly.com
- Philosophy of Social Science: A New Introduction - cursosupla.files.wordpress.com
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