Page 122 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

notes Without it, no science can move towards maturity and progress. Being progressive and developing
is a mentionable requirement of each science and it cannot be achieved until scaling methods also
do not improve progressively. Goode and Hatt have written, “all sciences march towards maximum
accuracy. there are many forms of this accuracy but its basic form is measure of ordered series.” this
measure can be possible only with the help of scaling methods hence, it is clear that for obtaining
maximum accuracy these methods are required.
2. for objective Measurement: in social researches, study of realities of social phenomena and though
them drawing realistic and dependable inferences is possible only when we an able to objectively
measure a phenomenon. For finding about the actual situation quantitative description is extremely
important and this task is possible only with the help of scaling methods. if social phenomenon are not
measured objectively then always this fear will be there that social phenomena being qualitative, each
researcher will infer them differently because of which in analysis of phenomenon any kind of clarity
will not grow inwardly. for everyone to take out similar objective and static inference is possible only
when we have a definite method or measurement of measuring various social phenomenon. Hence
for objective measurement of social phenomenon also scaling methods are extremely required and
this is only there utility or importance.
Material science is more mature and accurate because in it methods of quantitative measures are in
quite developed form. But sociology has not been also to do so much of development work on these
methods; still there is no lack of effort in this direction. Any science is not able to achieve quantitative
accuracy from the beginning itself. As that science is developed quantitative accuracy also goes on
increasing because slowly scaling methods also get developed. same situation is of sociology too.
Dr. P.V. Young has written, “though in this field, i.e. in the field of development of scaling methods
many tasks are in initial stage, still it may be said in the form of a science as sociology will keep getting
matured, there will be more development in existent measuring instruments and many new and more
accurate scaling methods will also develop.”

15.3 Difficulties of Sociological Scaling

Other than the above mentioned difficulties in building measuring scales we have to face some more
difficulties in building sociological scales. The reason is the unique nature of social phenomenon.
Below mentioned description will clarify the difficulties that come in building sociological scales in
reference to nature of social phenomenon.
1. Complexity of Social Phenomenon: In making scales for measuring social facts first difficulty stems
that social phenomenon are complex. every social fact is often a result of many causes hence, it gets
difficult to decide that in building scales which of these causes must be given the importance. Also all
these facts or causes are so much mixed up in each other i.e. so much inter-relation, inter-dependence
is found among them that they may not be measured separately.
2. Abstractness of Social Phenomena: Second difficulty that comes in developing sociological scales
is abstractness of social phenomenon,. i.e. they are qualitative and measuring qualitative facts in
quantitative form becomes a difficult problem. Social status, thoughts, love, bias, hatred, attitude etc.
all social phenomenons are abstract or qualitative and this is why problem arises that how should
they be expressed quantitatively.
3. Heterogeneity of Social Phenomenon: Developing sociological scales is also more difficult because
much heterogeneity is found in social phenomenon. Various groups are found in human society.
of them each has its own culture, customs, traditions, principles, values, language, religion, faiths,
castes; tribes etc. and on these basis only one knows how many sub-divisions are there in them. Other
than this, in same group itself on the basis of thoughts of various members, feelings, principles, life
values, faiths religions etc. variations are there. the result of all these is that it cannot be completely
dependent upon any sociological scale and nor does a scale developed for a group may be applied
on another group.

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