Essay Example on Empirical Research: Objectivity in Social Sciences

Empirical research is founded on the observed and measured occurrences; thus it acquires knowledge from experience as opposed to the theory of belief. Since it is based on practical considerations, the objectivity of social sciences should not be influenced or affected by personal feelings and proficiencies of the researcher (Oberschall, 2007). The researchers are expected to be unbiased and value-free when performing their investigations. All fields of social science notwithstanding their specializations are taught as social science using an empirical approach. The field of social psychology involves the scientific research of how an individual’s perceptions, behaviors, and feelings are influenced by social influences.

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Psychology is a science since it offers explanatory theories that can be disapproved by the public through subjective interpretations. Therefore, psychology is an empirical social science since it is in line with how a theory is tested by comparing its predictions to actual information (Bodenmann, & Rey, 2018). This approach is practical since it allows a person to rule out a theory by illustrating or proving what is wrong. A psychologist provides phenomenological assertions which are believed to be factual statements such as what happens, when, and why (Stanton, 2020). As a result, such theoretical claims are non-controversial and any person is free to verify or disapprove the claim using an alternative explanation or data.

The objectivity of social psychology holds that the data is independent of the individual doing the study. This denotes that the information is not hidden or private, but instead, it in the public domain and it can be substantiated or tested by others (Stein, 2018). This is an essential element in empirical science because the data provided is value-free, objective, and unbiased. Therefore, this work has successfully outlined psychology as a behavioral science that uses empirical evidence, and its findings are believed to be scientific. The scientific status of any work is primarily determined by its method of analysis, not what it investigates, or who did the research (Anderson, 2017). Thus, empiricism stresses on objective and accurate measurement.

References

Anderson, V. (2017). Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative Research. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 28(2), 125–133. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21282

Bodenmann, S., & Rey, A.-L. (2018). What Does it Mean to be an Empiricist? Empiricisms in Eighteenth Century Sciences. Springer International Publishing.

Oberschall, A. (2007). 10. An Empirical Assessment of Max Weber’s “Objectivity of Social Science Knowledge.” Max Weber's 'Objectivity' Reconsidered. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442684553-012

Stanton, J. (2020). Data Science Methods for Psychology. Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0259

Stein, L. (2018). Analytical psychology: a modern science. Analytical Psychology: a Modern Science, 3–11. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429471797-1