.png){kind=icon}
http://www.criticism.com/md/weber1.html
This web source tackles the objectivity issue in social scientific inquiry and focuses especially on Max Weber’s views towards the possibility of objectivity and the relevance of values in social research. It not only offers a comprehensive analysis over the topic relying on multiple sources but also includes a useful bibliography and links to other web sources having similar analyses.
http://bertie.ccsu.edu/naturesci/PhilSci/Kuhn.html
This source offers a useful short summary of Thomas Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolutions. It briefly explicates his notions of ‘paradigm’ and ‘paradigm shift’.
This article discusses whether facts and values can be separated in social science research. It lays out the arguments of contending perspectives on this issue, before arguing that it is unrealistic to expect the social sciences to be as accurate as the natural sciences as they deal with different subject matter. It further argues that even research in the natural sciences can be affected by values.
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/avoidingbias
This web source explains how to write in an objective manner to avoid bias, such as avoiding the use of general statements, using evidence, and using inclusive language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuVOqBS9fo
This video of a PowerPoint presentation introduces normative political theory and sets out key issues and theorists through examples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Tccc0Ko68
This video introduces the idea of reflexivity in the qualitative research, which involves reflecting on how your own beliefs and characteristics influence the research process. This naturally involves thinking about bias and subjectivity, and the extent to which it is possible (or desirable) to eliminate it.