“Scientificity” of Social Research: Its Challenges and Implications

Abstract

This paper intends to investigate into the adequacy, challenges and implications of social research that is based on scientific approach. It originates from two basic questions. Firstly, is scientific criteria of social research adequate to contribute to the construction of an holistic Social Sciences? Secondly, what are the challenges and implications of the “scientificity” of the Social Sciences? In general, the concentration of the mainstream social research has been more on the scientific perspective. Observable facts, proven evidences, empirical and measurable evidences are the main manifestations of this scientific perspective. Such a “scientificity” has been developed through conventional research methodology. The problem is, could social research be an holistic research methodology only by concentrating on the scientific realm? If intangible realm such as spirituality is included, is the conventional research methodology posesses adequate tools of analysis in understanding the intangibles? This paper intends to answer these questions and observe the challenges and implications faced by the scientific perspective. For these purposes, a textual analysis will be adopted. It will be shown that scientificity of social research is not a sufficient way to understand an holistic Social Sciences. It is based on some of the challenges such as for instance the question of how to observe the unseen, and quantifying the unquantifiable. From the challenges, it will cause certain implications that will be discussed in this paper.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p62