In this section we will focus on the following knowledge questions:

To what extent is it legitimate for a researcher to draw on their own experiences as evidence in their investigations in the human sciences?

If two competing paradigms give different explanations of a phenomenon, how can we decide which explanation to accept?

You can also look at the following in your own time:

Is it possible to eliminate the effect of the observer in the pursuit of knowledge in the human sciences?

How might the beliefs and interests of human scientists influence their conclusions? How can we know when we have made progress in the search for knowledge in the human sciences?

What forms of protection against research error and bias are available to human scientists?

What is it about a theory that gives it the power to destabilize our view of ourselves and of the world?