Seeking two individual responses to the following postsbelow.

Discussion Question:

Empirical social science research must remain value free. Thisposition is practical and preserves the objectivity of the socialsciences (Ciaffa, 1998). Explain your understanding of the abovestatement using examples from your specific area of social sciencespecialization

Post #1:

The above statement in my view, highlights that the research ofsocial science, should be conducted without the inclination of theresearcher’s own values (such as personal, political and orreligious) beliefs, interfering with the research process. Inessence the research should be evidential based and factual. Forexample if Psychologist have to make a diagnosis the diagnosingthey would have to examine the signs and the symptoms exhibited bythe patient to derive at the prognosis. That prognosis must bebased on the studies conducted whereby the relevant evidence isobtained to substantiate such prognosis and hence, the methods oftreatment can be administered. The conclusion arrived at as theresult of inquiry and investigation should be independent of race,culture, colour, occupation, religion and political predispositionof the investigation. If the Psychologist is expected to be trulyobjective, then it must be independent of any subjective elementsor any personal desire that the Psychologist may have. Neuman(2014) highlights a number of characteristics associated withpositivism, one of which is that, Social Science should bevalue-free and objective. Being objective is to uncover truthsabout the world. To uncover the truth about the world, one mustaspire to eliminate personal biases, prior beliefs, and emotionaland personal involvement. This could be done through quantitativedata, which is not subjective, such as using official statistics.These are usually analyzed to discern patterns and establishcausation. (Notes) Having read (Ciaffa, 1998) and Max Weber citedin (Coser, 1977) (Max Webers Concept of value Free Research) I cameto the conclusion that in order for sociology to make a significantcontribution to society, it need to be free from personal opinions,experience and biasness, otherwise it is unlikely to be takenseriously or have an impact on society or social policy.

Post #2

Empirical research is defined as any research where conclusionsof the study is strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence,and therefore “verifiable” evidence (Bhat, n.d.). Thus empiricalresearch is based on observed and measured phenomena and derivesknowledge 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 isattainable. Bierstedt, cited by Haralambos & Holburn (1991p.948) posits that objectivity means that the conclusions arrivedat as the result of inquiry and investigation are independent ofthe race, color, creed, occupation, nationality, religion, moralpreference, and political predisposition of the investigator. Thatis to say that, if we are to arrive at the truth, then we mustdivorce those preconceived notion that we hold dear. It isdifficult, as humans, to hold unbiased views on issues we feelstrongly about. Even in the face of evidence, that contradicts ourview, 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 withscenes of racial injustice pervasive in the United States andindeed the around the world. For example, as a black psychologists,I may want to find out whether these injustices had an effect onblack children’s sense of safety. I remember watching a video of ablack child playing basketball in his yard and hiding behind hisparents vehicle when he saw an approaching police car. Straightaway, I have already formed a judgement, because of the child’sreaction, and my own adverse reaction to the many instances ofracial injustice that I have seen. Yet, the statement, isrequiring, that for my research to be taken seriously, I must putmy aside my blackness and all other factors that may adverselyaffect the outcome of my research. Although I see the critical needfor objectivity, I question to what extent researchers can trulydivorce themselves from the study.