Page 180 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

notes in such a way that it is possible to transmit the result and confirm them through re-examination, then
such results would be an appropriate matter for scientific study.

Notes ‘objective’ or ‘subjective’ these two words do not point to two different types of
phenomenon, but they tell that how much we have been possible to develop our
tools of inspection for describing the outcomes of our inspection.

Due to lack of suitable techniques any technique that is today objective may become subjective in
the future. for example, before the invention of thermometer, the measurement of temperature was
a subjective phenomenon but after the invention of thermometer, the measurement of temperature
became an objective phenomena.
therefore, we can say that the differences between the social science facts and physical science are not
real in spite of being evident. We consider the facts of physical sciences as more evident and objective
as compared to sociology not because they are underlying differences between them but because the
techniques of natural sciences are more developed. in the words of Lundberg, “there are no underlying
differences in the facts, the underdeveloped techniques and methodology and unawareness of our
study are the problems that hinder the possibility of a practical science of society.”

24.3 Qualitativeness of Social Phenomena

one difference between social and physical phenomena that is quite often quoted is that physical
phenomena are quantitative whereas social phenomena are qualitative in nature. the qualitative
nature of social phenomena becomes a hindrance in the study because social phenomena unlike
physical phenomena cannot be measured in quantitative terms. Measurement, weight and quantitative
description of phenomena is essential for empirical study. We can talk of cooperation, struggle,
culturalization, religious enmity, biasness but cannot measure them in quantitative terms. for example,
the love and cooperation between a husband and wife, the intimacy between two friends or the strained
relations between two opposing parties can only be presented in a descriptive manner but to present
them in quantitative terms is very difficult. The biggest drawback of social phenomena is that every
person views them according to their own view-point and understands them accordingly. if we say
that my home is big in area then the estimate that one person have about area may be completely
different from another person’s estimate and a third person’s estimate may be something very different
from the first two. Therefore, it becomes difficult to find about the reality.

Notes Although a sociologist has to face many difficulties yet it does not mean that
scientific research is not possible.

The reality is that the difference between the quantitative and qualitative facts is unscientific. This
is a result of developments occurring or not occurring in the techniques of study. if the techniques
are not of advanced level then there would be no other way than to describe them in qualitative
way but if the techniques are of advanced level then then quantitative analysis of such phenomena
becomes possible. therefore, the drawback is not of the phenomena but of the techniques. therefore,
if we describe any phenomena as ‘hot’, ‘cold’, ‘red’, ‘yellow’, etc. then different people will mean it

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