What is objectivity? Why is it important in scientific research? What are some factors that might hinder objectivity? How might a researcher prevent a loss of objectivity? Thanks so much!
2006-09-13 08:41:04 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices
2006-09-13 08:49:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Objectivity is not allowing your personal beliefs of biases shadow what you are observing. Things that hinder objectivity are emotional attachment to beliefs, political agenda or some type of outside pressure, such as peer pressure. A researcher can prevent loss of objectivity by not making any moral judgments and assumptions about what the researcher is observing.
2006-09-13 08:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Chris J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Objectivity is the quality or state of being just and unbiased.
It is important in scientific research because Science is based on facts, therefore it needs the results to be unbiased by personal opinion.
Personality, personal opinions, being related in some way or gaining or losing something from the experiment at hand.
A researcher can prevent losing objectivity by focusing on why he or she is doing the research in the first place so that his or her opinions don't affect their judgement.
Hope this helps!
2006-09-13 08:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by White 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ob‧jec‧tive /əbˈdʒɛktɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uhb-jek-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
5. not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased: an objective opinion.
6. intent upon or dealing with things external to the mind rather than with thoughts or feelings, as a person or a book.
7. being the object of perception or thought; belonging to the object of thought rather than to the thinking subject (opposed to subjective).
8. of or pertaining to something that can be known, or to something that is an object or a part of an object; existing independent of thought or an observer as part of reality.
to be objective means you are concerned with what EXISTS, not what it means, or what it makes you feel, or what people think about it. for example, you could say that objectively, stem cells come from from embryos. oppositely, or SUBJECTIVELY, you might say that stemm cells come from murdered, aborted babies, and are morally wrong.
so what might hinder objectivity? emotions, political beliefs, religious beliefs, past experiences, etc.
2006-09-13 08:54:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋