Social Epistemology: Concepts of Subjectivity and Objectivity and Their Impact on Social Science Methods

Annur Hafifah El Firdausy (Universitas Negeri Jakarta)
Bagoes Syechtio (Universitas Negeri Jakarta)
Ikhsan Maulana Fauzi (Universitas Negeri Jakarta)
Riani Azahara (Universitas Negeri Jakarta)

Aimmah: Social Sciences Journal
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2026)

This article discusses social epistemology as a foundation for understanding the acquisition and validation of knowledge in a social context. The main issues examined include the dualism between subjectivity and objectivity and its impact on social science research methodology. Using a literature review method based on data collected from various digital scientific journal articles, this study shows that subjectivity emphasizes individual and relative experiences but risks triggering reactivity and social desirability bias. Conversely, objectivity focuses on universal facts but is susceptible to confirmation bias. This article concludes that social science researchers must maintain professional distance and apply rigorous methodological controls to minimize distortions of reality and ensure the credibility of research findings.