Why is objectivity a central problem in the social sciences?

In the philosophy of social science, objectivity is a central problem because social scientists study phenomena that include themselves and their own societies, making it difficult to separate research from personal values and individual preferences.12

Because the subject matter of social science is familiar and deeply relevant to daily life, researchers may be susceptible to bias, leading to concerns that their findings could be influenced by their own hopes, fears, or ideological commitments. This challenge is compounded when social scientists engage in critique—such as ideology critique or deconstruction—which requires them to assess the rationality or coherence of others' beliefs. A fundamental ethical and methodological question arises: how can a researcher evaluate the self-understandings of others without simply imposing their own predilections or subjective judgments?12

While no human is entirely without values, the social sciences strive for objectivity by employing methodological devices—such as objective observational techniques, measurement methods, and blind analysis—to prevent researchers from imposing their personal wishes on research outcomes. Maintaining this rigor is essential to ensuring that social science remains a reliable pursuit of knowledge rather than a tool for confirming pre-existing beliefs.1