Naslov
Scientists' concepts of scientific objectivity

Autori
Prpić, Katarina

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Beyond the Myths about the Natural and Social Sciences: A Sociological View

Urednik/ci
Prpić, Katarina

Izdavač
Institut za društvena istraživanja

Grad
Zagreb

Godina
2009

Raspon stranica
275-321

ISBN
978-953-6218-40-0

Ključne riječi
scientific objectivity, scientists' perceptions of objectivity, natural scientists, social scientists

Sažetak
According to the results of this qualitative data analysis, objectivity is the crucial value for both natural and social scientists. Both mostly believe that it is attainable ; both are least prone to define it as the correspondence of knowledge and reality ; both stress the importance of research procedures, primarily verification and evidence in science, and non-subjectivity and impartiality. A type of epistemological realism in the sense of the importance of evidence and reason seems to prevail in both scientific areas. Peculiarities of the cognitive style of the natural and social sciences follow the sociological typologies of scientific fields. Natural scientists show greater conviction in the attainment and attainability of objectivity, generally greater confidence in the power and efficiency of scientific methods and procedures, and they also accentuate replicability and measurement. Their greater inclination towards positivism is obvious. Relativism is, naturally, more frequent in social scientists. They put greater emphasis on the inevitability of subjectiveness and external influences in their field. They express greater doubt in the omnipotence of research methods and procedures, and more often either question the possibility of achieving objectivity or reject it in principle.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA