Every day new issues come up regarding the already researched fields, and this leads scientists to go back and carry new research or develop the previous research findings. Some scientists come together and form a research team or group through which they plan and conduct various tasks on projects while others prefer to carry out personal research. In the following paper, the possibility of having an objective research conducted by an individual scientist is explored. Generally, evaluating the evidences it appears that an individual scientist can be hardly successful in obtaining objective results of one’s research; whereas when the research is conducted by a group of scientists it is very easy to combine all the views and settle on the most generally acceptable way of conducting the research leading to attainment of objectivity of the research.
Speaking about objectivity of research conducted individually, the first important thing to be done is giving definition to such important notions as objectivity, subjectivity, democratism and criticism. First, objectivity can be defined as an important characteristic of any research which insures that the results of any particular research are true to reality and external (Longino 2002). Secondly, subjectivity can be defined as someone’s tendency to express one’s own opinion which is affected by certain developments form outside (Longino 2000). Thirdly, democratism can be explained as the efforts to express and defend the ideals which are important for any particular democratic community which participates in the research or is somehow connected with it (Kitcher 2002). And finally, criticism may be ascertained as a healthy doubting of anything along with sober analyzing, evaluating, interpreting and classifying any particular object or phenomenon (Longino 2002).
Next, in connection to the issue of whether objectivity can be achieved by an individual scientist the four articles by Longino and Kitcher are to be analyzed. Generally, Longino’s approach suggests that individual can be effective in finding objective results in one’s researches, while Kitcher argues about the opposite idea. According to Kitcher, research is defined as any systematic method that is aimed at unraveling the mysteries behind the occurrence of certain phenomena on earth. It can also be referred to as any activity that is aimed at finding the truths, facts causes, effects and relationships among various issues. Science is defined as the art or technique used to do something. Scientific research refers to the use of specific techniques towards attaining the set objectives that may include verification of a hypothesis, answering a question or finding solutions to a problem. It should be noted that all scientific research methods must involve the use of an empirical formulae that outlines all the essentials of conducting a successful research (Kitcher 2002). This is a research whose hypothesis has been verified or declined, the research questions well answered and the findings should be verifiable by any other scientific researcher. The chance of a researcher to attain objectivity in any project is highly guided by various factors that have to be observed.
Reflecting on the articles under consideration, it should be stated that the position supporting multiple participators of research as more effective workers than individual ones appears to be more sound and sober-minded to me. Namely, any scientific researcher should ensure that the criteria of scientific research are followed to the later in order to come up with an objective research finding and conclusion. Universality is one of the major factors that determine the success of any research. Any research project should be designed and planned in such a way that any competent researcher can successfully undertake it without consulting the person who did it for more instructions on the procedures or methodology used. The research project should have its own life that is independent from the researcher and should defend itself in the absence of the person who conducted it. However, when an individual carries out an independent research it is very likely that the project will have many loose ends that will leave the audience with more questions than answers. On the other hand when a research is conducted by a group of scientists it is very possible to have a wider approach to it that will be reflected through the acceptance of the results obtained.
An objective scientific research should be replicable meaning that it should be possible for any scientist to follow the same procedure used by the researcher and arrive at the same findings and conclusions. If the steps and procedures are followed properly by the rules of data collection and analysis under the same conditions while using the same parameters this should lead to the same results as those obtained by the first researcher. Scientific research is always aimed at getting the underlying reasons for occurrences and these reasons will not differ if a research is conducted properly. In many cases it is very impossible to achieve objectivity by an individual researcher due to the fact that every researcher has his/her own ways of conducting research that may not be in use by other researchers. When a research is conducted by a group of scientists it is very easy to combine all the views and settle on the most generally acceptable way of conducting the research leading to attainment of objectivity of the research. The data collected in any scientific research should be measureable or susceptible to quantification directly or indirectly. Both natural and social sciences involve the use of simple measurements that may be logical or empirical (Kitcher 2002).
There are very slim chances that data collected by an individual researcher can pass this test due to the fact that in most cases people fail to quantify their findings through numbers or logic and this makes such research findings very questionable. When such research is conducted by a group of scientists there is likelihood that the results obtained will pass the measurability test without any doubts. Validity is one of the key components hat gives value and credibility to any research whether conducted by an individual or a group of researchers. It should be noted that validity here if referred in terms of figures, observations, arguments, ecology and events. These are very important in any research and should reflect what is on the ground. The possibility of an individual researcher to assign values and relate ideas to what is on the ground is possible.
People are always tempted to make assumptions of data when conducting personal research and this makes the research findings to be full of assumptions and speculations rather than actual facts that exist on the ground. This proves that it is very much difficult for an individual researcher to a achieve objectivity in the projects being undertaken. On the other hand a research conducted by a group of scientists has high possibilities of getting to the ground and conducting actual research rather than rely on assumptions and speculations. Reliability on the data collected is also a major issue that determines the objectivity of any research findings. In any scientific research there should be room for testing the methodology, findings, conclusions and recommendations put forward by a researcher. For any research to be objective it must be reliable in terms of consistency and accuracy in the data presented as this determines the credibility of the whole project.
Criticizing the opponents of my point of view, it should be stated that research done by individual scientist is usually subjected to some levels of inconsistencies and inaccuracies that arise due to lack of proper concentration on the work. It may also occur as a result of limited knowledge on the research topic that makes the findings to have disjointed information. When research is conducted by a group of people it is very easy to attain consistency in the results since there are many eyes fixed on the project and a simple mistake is easily identified. Sampling is a major component that guides any scientific research towards achieving its objectives. When research is being conducted it is impossible to go on the ground and have contact with all the population or subject of study hence the use of a few individuals from the total population becomes necessary. This selected part of the population is referred to as the sample and becomes the representative of the entire population (Longino 2002). The research focuses on this sample and all the results obtained become a representation of the whole population.
In conclusion, when an individual scientist conducts a research he/she becomes limited to fewer samples compared to the many samples that are obtained by a group of scientists conducting the same research. This will automatically influence the outcome of the research, as the group research will provide more accurate and reliable information due to the use of many samples compared to limited samples of an individual researcher.
References
Kitcher, P. (2002). The Third Way: Reflections on Helen Longino’s ‘The Fate of Knowledge’. Philosophy of Science, 69 (4), 549-559.
Kitcher, Philip. (2002). Reply to Helen Longino. Philosophy of Science, 69 (4),569-572.
Longino, H. (2002). Science and the Common Good: Thoughts on Philip Kitcher’s Science, Truth and Democracy. Philosophy of Science, 69 (4), 560-568
Longino, H. (2000). Reply to Philip Kitcher. Philosophy of Science, 69 (4), 573-577.