Applicability Of ‘Influence’ As A Measurable Tool In Social Science Research

Abstract

This article made a studious attempt to make a contribution to research on the often discussed and debated area of ‘measurability’ of research variables. By explaining the uniqueness of social sciences amidst other sciences; this paper evaluated the details that underlie the measuring of variables and measuring of research tools in social sciences, it assessed the measuring of ‘Influence’ in Social Sciences from available scholarly works from political science perspectives which defined influence as work that is used to politically motivate an institution or organization’s decisions in a certain direction through advocacy, lobbying, negotiation and knowledge uptake. The study argued that ‘influence’ is a construct (being an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements and at the same time an indicator variable that measures characteristics or trait) of persons and activities in society. This article further examined the applicability of ‘influence’ as a measurable tool in social sciences and observed that it has capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself. There exist multiple forms of influence in use in order to achieve organizational or research goals which then requires that multiple approaches should be used to evaluate them. Using thematic approach and qualitative analysis the study concluded that despite the ability to measure influence, there must be readiness to counter the inherent challenges that are associated with it.