This document discusses objectivity and subjectivity in social science research. It defines objectivity as relying on facts and being free from bias, while subjectivity refers to personal perceptions, feelings, and opinions. The document notes that complete objectivity is difficult for humans but the aim of research is to minimize subjectivity and maximize objectivity. It advocates balancing both approaches, as too much of either can be problematic. The key is combining interpretation with accurate representation of events and facts. The goal is moving from subjective to more objective understanding through systematic analysis and using original sources.

1. Objectivity and Subjectivity in Social Science
Research
Dr. Kishor Kumar
Associate Professor- Department of History
Director- Swami Vivekananda Study Centre
K. M. Govt. Post Graduate College, Badalpur
Gautam Buddha Nagar, U.P. (India)
+91-9990257272
dr.kumarkishor@gmail.com

2. Research Meaning
Re-search is systematic effort to gain new
knowledge.
Research is an honest, exhaustive, intelligent
searching for facts and their meaning or
implications with reference to a given problem.
Research is simply a systematic refined techniques
of thinking, employing specialized tools, instruments
and procedures in order to obtain a more adequate
solution of a problem.

3. Research Meaning
Historical Research is the application of the scientific
method of inquiry to historical problem.
It is a process of planning, acquiring, analyzing, and
disseminating relevant data, information, and insights
to decision makers in ways that mobilize the
organization to take appropriate actions that
maximizes business performance.
The primary purpose of research is to reduce the level
of risk of a business decision.
Social research is the systematic method of discovering
new facts or verifying old facts, their sequence, Inter-
relationship, causal explanations and the natural laws
which govern them.

4. Research Problem & To Find a Solution
Need – Resources = Problem
Example:-
1.Treatment of Corona Covid-19 is need-Resource available
(Hydroxychloroquine) not very effective
=Problem (To find out a perfect medicine to cure Corona
Covid-19)
2.Great Loss to Economy- Need to survive and revive
Governments have less financial and revenue resources -
Finding new way to revival and coping with world
economy.

5. Steps of Solution
Critical Approach about problem
Innovative Approach towards solution
Execution Through Research

6. Research Process
Collection of Data/ Sources
Selection of Data/ Source
Analyses of Data/ Sources
Report writing

7. Why ?
Problem is one
Solutions are many

8. Anekantavad/ Syadvad/ Anekantavad
The doctrine of manifold nature of reality- Mahavir
The doctrine of may be
This doctrine explain about
 Relative Truth
 Absolute Truth
Examples:-
The Nature of National Movement
(Non-Violence/ Revolutionary)
The nature of First Freedom Movement
Imperialist & Nationalist Historiography
Communism System & Ram Rajya
Lockdown for humanity & Economy Revival

9. Swami Vivekananda’s View on Truth
The whole world trying to move from false to
truth
Indian culture (Hinduism too) is all about
moving towards low level truth to high level
truth
The ultimate aim of research- to get new
knowledge- finding comparatively high level
truth

10. Subjectivity
Subjective knowledge is refers to the individual’s
perception, his values, feelings, desires, belief, opinion
perspectives and preferences.
Subjectivity focuses on things as subjects, relying on
feelings and emotions to define the nature, intent, content
& purpose.
Subjective evaluation emphasize on one’s own attitude/
opinion. It can be unduly egocentric or dominating
Illogical and Distinct Interpretation
So it’s a mind- dependent analyses
It may create an illusion or imagination

11. Objectivity
Objectivity is completely opposite to subjectivity
Objectively refers to the ability to judge logically
without bias or external influence
Inquiry for truth- Philosophical
Based on facts
Real Thought
Devoid from feeling or emotions
 Free from preconceived notion or situation

12. Objectivity
Objectivity is not influenced by an individual
previous experience, preferences or taste
So objectivity presupposes an independent reality
that exist independent of interpretation of the
observer
It can be grasped through systematic observation
or experimentation
Objectivity exist independent of mind
Understanding problems and solutions in abrader
way (Holistic Approaches)

13. Subjective to Objective
To move from a subjective understanding to more
objective understanding on the basis of systematic
observation, analyses and experimentation (Based on
original sources/ data)
To find more accurate/ scientific knowledge
To find scientific knowledge about Evolution of
society/ Institutions/ organizations
 To find more scientific decisions

14. Is it possible to be completely Objective ?
Subjective elements means- The elements of
human intervention
For human being its tough to be neutral in
thought and action
That is the crux of the problem of objectivity
There must be a hidden influenced or inevitable
subjective quality which can not be entirely
suppressed.
So minimize the subjectivity and maximize the
objectivity in social science research is also an
objective (like objectives of research)

15. Balance between Objectivity & Subjectivity
K. N. Chitnis in his book Research Methodology in
History (Atlantic Publishers & distributers (P) LTD-2006)
write:-
Objectivity, if carried to an extreme, result in dry, result in
dry and lifeless cataloguing of events; subjectivity, if
carried to an extreme, results in a highly biased work
often divorced from a reality.
Subjectivity, if pursued beyond a certain points, would
even lead to the production of a work of fiction, rather
then the history

16. Balance between Objectivity & Subjectivity
Thus a mere objective work would lack interpretation,
while a mere subjective work will have no relation to the
actual events.
A work detached from historical facts is no history,
however well written and interpretative it may be.
An ideal would be one that combines subjectivity with
objectivity in the due proportion without upholding the
one at the cost of other.

17. I do not teach anyone I provide the
environment in which they can learn.
Albert Einstein

18. Thanks a lot