Bias in Research
User Rating: 0 / 5
- Details
- Hits: 34634
Avoiding bias in research
This paper seeks to identify biases presented in research. Scholarly research should provide insights rather than present opinions. It should be objective rather than subjective. It should add to the existing knowledge rather than be sentimental presentation of information.
Bias can appear in a study in sampling or testing where one selects and encourages an outcome but ignores others. Bias can be observed at any stage of the study and should be avoided. Bias occurring during collection of data can give wrong interpretation and hence wrong conclusions to a study. In one of the articles, a selection bias was observed in a trial where the test was none randomized and medical personnel grouped the patients. This happened in a study on reconstructive surgery (Christopher et al., 2010).
During an interview, bias can occur when a difference is observed in how information is sought. That can happen when the person conducting the interview already has information concerning the status of the student. This may make the interviewer ask biased questions. Avoiding such pitfalls in a study are crucial for providing reliable information that can be used in tackling issues at hand (Christopher et al. 2010).
Therefore, bias in a study can be avoided by ensuring that chances of being biased are minimized. In sampling, the researcher needs to do a random sampling technique to avoid selecting the study sample from an already prejudged group. If the person were conducting an interview, it would be important that the interviewee as much as possible is unknown to the interviewer (Gurusamy et al., 2009). That is crucial to avoid asking questions that the interviewer expects a particular answer. Or rather, questions that are conclusive while one is soliciting for information. It remains crucial that the results of a study provide objective views and not merely the opinion of the researcher. This is because the information, especially in health, could be used to make crucial decisions in the sector hence providing opinionated information could lead to wrong determinations (McDowel & Newell, 1996).