The status of the concept of reference object in measurement in the human sciences compared to the physical sciences

Abstract

For measurement in the human sciences, one barrier to being able to see the commonalities with measurement in the physical sciences has been the common prominence that is often given to the important place that "reference objects" are given in introductory accounts in metrology. The obvious difficulties in having such objects, say, "reference humans," makes it difficult to build connections. In this paper, we outline a way to broaden the concept of a reference object in way that addresses this issue. In this light we then discuss the recent developments in the International System of Units (SI), and comment on certain similarities.