The Elements of Bias in Social Science Research

Edited by Ausaf Ahmad

Published by Institute of Objective Studies, 2011

About this Item

Contents Preface 1 Gates of Ijtihad a study of epistemological bias in social and physical sciencesAbdel Wahab el Messiri 2 Bias in western social throughAdel Hussein 3 Theories of political development a case of biased discourse in the political scienceNasr M Arif 4 Confronting bias in Third World cultureFerial J Ghazoul 5 Reflections on technology and development a cultural perspectiveHamed Ibrahim El Mously The bias in the epistemological and philosophical issues involved in social science research has attracted the attention of social scientists only recently There is a growing literature on these issues These problems are confronted by every researcher in social sciences The problem is more acute for the writers thinkers and researchers from the so called Third World because social research methodology and scientific paradigms used by them are dominated by the concepts analytical tools instruments philosophies and theoretical systems developed in the West There is nothing against them for having been developed in the West But most of these concepts theories and analytical tools contain the biases rooted in the Western culture Usually these biases are hidden behind beautiful words high sounding terminologies attractive philosophical systems and academic jargon The papers collected in the present volume plead that researchers need to be more careful in using these paradigms than they apparently have been There is a strong urge to develop an alternative paradigm of social science research in some third word quarters However this book does not plead for the evolution of an alternative paradigm which in any case is not going to happen suddenly and overnight Instead the papers included here plead for a more careful and pains talking use of prevailing paradigms Researchers must at least be aware of the biases that creep into their research through the use of current methodologies They also owe it to their readers that these biases are explained 188 pp.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Elements of Bias in Social Science Research
• Publisher: Institute of Objective Studies
• Publication Date: 2011