Page 131 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Unit-16: Reliability and Validity

6. possibility of prejudices and counter prejudices—it is said that a researcher has to move on double notes
edged sword in the sense that if he adopts the prejudices nature for his subject matter then he goes far
away from neutrality; and if he tries to do counter prejudices then many opposing prejudices hinders
his path and make achievement of neutrality impossible. for example, if a researcher in the form
of a member of a joint family analysis the defects of the joint family system by remaining unbiased
then also the study would be one sided because by doing so he himself fells in to the trap of counter
prejudices and for his study and results it would be said that he has closed his eyes for the advantages
of joint family system. in the same way if he analyses only the advantages then the disadvantages are
left out. It becomes very difficult to establish neutrality by using balanced viewpoint for advantages
and disadvantages. if a researcher says racism is good then he becomes a victim of counter prejudices
and he is blamed for being prejudiced and if he says racism is bad then also he becomes a victim of
counter prejudices and he is blamed for being prejudiced for accepting the advantages of racism. in
this way prejudices and counter prejudices are both problematic in establishment of neutrality.
7. Ethnocentrism—one more noteworthy problem in the establishment of objectivity or neutrality
is ethnocentrism. this means that a particular person has a soft corner for his own society and social
phenomena and this weakness is expressed in the form that he considers the family system in his
society, religion, literature, language, other social and cultural institutions, thoughts and principles as
most superior compared to others. Being superior does not reflect reality but is symbolic of his own
weakness and creates problem in establishment of objectivity because it is impossible for a researcher
to remain detached from this. in the same way when he studies the social phenomena of any other
society then it becomes difficult for him to do unbiased and neutral study because he considers other
society and their phenomena as inferior to his own society and also he evaluates those phenomena
on the basis of the standards of his own society. that is why it becomes impossible for a researcher
to achieve neutrality. in reality the feeling of ethnocentrism is symbolic of the facts that it develops
itself in a person for his social system, traditions, institutions, values and idols and, where there is
attachment establishment of objectivity if difficult, detachment is the first condition for achievement
of objectivity. ethnocentrism is opposing to this condition that is why it is problematic in achievement
of objectivity.
self assessment

fill in the blanks:
1. An error through an important phrase that mostly __________ do while researching.
2. the __________ commits the mistake of viewing any subject matter his own perspective.
3. _________ is related to real knowledge not general knowledge.

8. Vested Interest of the Researcher Himself—sometimes it happens that the vested interest of the
researcher himself becomes a problem in achievement of neutrality. this only happens when he
sacrifices truth for his altar of selfishness. For any researcher who keeps his vested interest on top
most priority, there is no meaning of achievement on neutrality. His self-interest makes him blind
and he presents all the facts in such a manner that his vested interest is achieved or very less blow is
given to his own interest.

Notes Charles Wood has written “the vested interest of the researcher is that scale that
does not measures the objectivity, but measures the researcher himself and based
on that measure evaluates the significance of the study.”

loVely professional uniVersity 125