The ideal of objectivity means that a researcher:
A) must not care personally about the topic being studied.
B) must try to adopt a stance of personal neutrality toward the outcome of the research.
C) must study issues that have no value to society as a whole.
D) must carry out research that will encourage desirable social change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ideal of objectivity in research means that a researcher should not allow their personal biases or beliefs to influence the outcome of their research. They should strive to adopt a neutral stance toward their topic of study and approach it with an open mind. This does not mean that they should not care about the topic, but rather that they should attempt to set aside personal values or beliefs that could potentially bias their research findings. Option A is incorrect because caring about the topic of study can actually enhance a researcher's motivation and commitment to conducting high-quality research. Option C is incorrect because research should ideally be socially relevant and address real-world problems. Option D is incorrect because the goal of research should be to discover knowledge and understand the world around us, rather than to encourage social change (although this may be a potential outcome of the research).

The Ideal of Objectivity Means That a Researcher