Objectivity versus Subjectivity as Social Research Methods...

Objectivity versus Subjectivity as Social Research Methods Discussions from social research argue over or try to maintain a sense of equilibrium while answering and discussing the questions of objectivity and neutrality vs. bias and subjectivity. While reading, So what do you want from us here? by Barbara Myerhoff, Getting In by Ruth Horowitz, and Jelly’s Place by Elijah Anderson I focused on the questions of objectivity vs. subjectivity. Using the authors field research I found that the authors found specific approaches that affected their data whether it was interacting and forming relationships with the community members or just observing what roles or social order occur in society. There were many positive and†¦show more content†¦Myerhoff became one of the elderly trying to educate herself with her Jewish Heritage and learn their laws and language. She jumped into the role of being one of the elderly, literally. She wore tight gloves so she wouldn’t be able to perform easy tasks, also she wanted to heighten h er awareness of being elderly by taking off her glasses wearing ear plugs and using the heaviest pair of shoes she could find in the Center. She practiced participant observation so that she could become elderly and see the world from their viewpoint. Not knowing enough and being young affected her study. They continued to make her feel guilty about who she was and what she stood for. She also felt a sense of resentment, but other times she felt admired and honored. Myeroff knew she didn’t understand and was told that she wouldn’t. You have not set your eyes on any part of the place we lived in. How can you expect to understand? (Myerhoff, p. 88) The research methods she developed affected her data by concentrating on what the elderly people were all about and how they perceived life. While Myerhoff was wearing their garb she felt a sense of vulnerability and wanted to avoid from falling because of observing the elderly even though she knew she was in good hea lth. This recognition occurred after I had been watching two very old women walk down the alley with great concentration, arms tightly linked, navigating impediments in slow-motion. So great was theirShow MoreRelatedDefinition, Consistency And Neutrality Must Be Addressed?976 Words   |  4 Pagesinto human condition is executed. There are some critiques of qualitative research namely reliability/dependability, generalization/transferability, flexibility, time consuming, objectivity/confirmability, credibility/believability, and sampling/variables. The criticism of qualitative studies inability to generalize their findings to the population is not valid. 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