RESEARCH BIAS
Jessica Wilson
Quotable
“The main point to remember with research bias is that, in many
disciplines, it is unavoidable.”
- Shuttleworth, M., (2009).
Understanding Bias
• It is important to understand and minimize bias
• Reality is subjective
• Quantitative research attempts to eliminate bias
• Qualitative research attempts to understand where bias will happen
to account for it
• It is important to report bias when it does occur
• Before starting my research, I needed to look at my own perspectives to
determine where I may experience bias in my research so that I can
account for it.
Quotable
• “While researcher bias and subjectivity are commonly understood
as inevitable and important by most qualitative researchers, the
beginners in qualitative research classes are generally not very
comfortable with the idea of research that is not value-neutral.”
• “The beginners in qualitative research classes are generally not very
comfortable with the notion that meaningful knowledge can be
constructed in a way that provides room for personal and
subjective ways of looking at the world.”
- Mehra, B., (2002).
Allowing for Bias In Research
• Putting a personal voice in qualitative research suggets a stronger
understanding of material
• Self-discovery is essential to learning
• Draw upon personal knowledge as a practioner
• Allows for positive exchange between researchers, teachers and
students
• Achieve continuity between self and research
• Conduct more passionate research
• Drive to conduct research comes from what the researcher wants
to know
Quotable
“Is it ok to bring biases to your inquiry – because everyone has them,
after all- as long as you openly admit them and continually reflect on
how they might affect what you conclude.”
“We cannot completely extricate ourselves from them (biases). All
we can ask of ourselves is to be transparent about what we think and
how our thinking may affect what we see.”
• Falk, Blumenreich, (2005)
Account for Bias
• Check your perspectives
• Brainstorm
• Consider possible bias
• Interpret how bias may affect your research
• Account for bias in your research presentation
Biased Research
“Third, beliefs within the medical profession about the nature of
African Americans, sexual behavior, and disease clouded the study.
As a result, the health of an entire community was jeopardized by
leaving a communicable disease untreated.”
-Heintzelman, C.A., (2003).
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
The Effect Bias on Research Reports
• Skewed results
• Law suits can be filed
• Morality can be questioned
• Health and wellness concerns can occur
• Participant safety is questioned
References
• Blumenreich, M. & Falk, B., (2005). The power of questions: A guide to teacher
and student research. Heineman. Portsmouth, NH. (p. 29)
• Heintzelman, C.A., ( 2003). The tuskegee syphilis study and its implications for
the 21st century. The New Social Worker, 10(4). Retrieved from
http://schillingerinquiry.wikispaces.com/file/view/Heintzelman_The+Tuskegee
+Syphilis+study+and+its+implications+for+the+21st+C-2.pdf
• Mehra, B., (2002). Bias in qualitative research: Voices from an online
classroom. The Qualitative Report, 7(1). Retrieved 08 May. 2012 from
http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR7-1/mehra.html
• Shuttleworth, M., (2009). Research Bias. Retrieved 08 May. 2012 from
Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/researchbias.html