Can research in psychology be totally free of bias?can any one explain if so and why?

Answer 1

Qualititive research is about opinions so it has room for bias.
Quantitive research is mathmatically-based and so can lack bias.
It is also true that different branches of psychology may differ in their assessment of the same situation. Hardly anyone agrees with psychiatrists, as far as I can see. (No, I'm overstepping the mark there). e.g. A behavioural psychologist would say that there is no evidence of sexual motivation in the Jack The Ripper case, a psychoanalist would probably say that there was.

Answer 2

Unlike, the weight lifting is measured in tangible ways & means and can be concluded this man came first and that man the second, research in psychology is never tangible and measureable in any acceptable way. For example, if you take a random sampling in a group, for evaluating which type of movies, the one prefer, one may reply one thing in this week and another thing the next week. And there are many age groups, gender differences, AND EVER CHANGING MOODS IN HUMAN MINDS. Yes, the researcher could be inclined to support some hero and heroin with some bias, and the people who have been taken as sample are also can have some bias. And that too can be changing with times and moods. Because,there are many permutations and combinations in these type of researches.
SO, ALWAYS THE INTANGIBLE AND IMMEASUREABLE ARTS LIKE PSYCHOLOGY, DANCE, PAINTING, SCULPTURE ETC., CAN NEVER BRING ANY KIND OF RIGHT EVALUATION BY RESEARCH! There is more chance and more bias in it, as to the kind of people involved in those researches!

Answer 3

I don't get the comparison of psychology to sculpture and dance. Anyway, my own opinion--and I conduct research in psychology--is that it probably cannot be completely free of bias. Both our observations (e.g., the data from an experiment) and our interpretations of those observations (e.g., an explanatory theory) are open to biases of all kinds. However, there's probably no need for it to be *completely* free from bias for it to converge on accurate general principles. For example, when different researchers with opposing biases reach the same conclusions, they're probably onto something "real." BTW, most philosophers would argue that *no* science is completely free from bias. Not physics, chemistry, paleontology, ....

Answer 4

It can
it mostly bias cause the experementor wants the outcome to what he wants or belive and not realy thought of all factors. All the experiment sofar can be free of bias but everone likes to see things or have others see things in there way and want it as simple as possible.

And this is comeing out of a A-level Psychology student

Answer 5

We do try to make our research as free of bias as we can. We try to control all variables, except for the one we manipulate. We take into consideration the time of day, the effects of what the experimenter is wearing, the words used, the processes, we try to be as methodological as we can. We use computers a lot to try to iron out any human bias.

We hope that the use of methodological processes and statistical analysis helps as well. So, my answer is, that we are aware of the human bias, and we try our best to reduce it and carry out research.

Warmth and Smiles.

Answer 6

I had a massive debate with a couple of lecturers on this one. (It lasted 3 years and was still never agreed). I think any research will have an element of bias in it at some point. Even if it's at sub-conscious level, which at first thought sounds lame, but really I think it makes sense. Could go on (and on and on and on) but wont bore you. There's my answer ;-)

Answer 7

research in psychology can be free of bias as long as the researcher can view without expectations and document the findings for what they are,without expanding on them.

Answer 8

No i do not think psychology can ever be a totally exact science,

because it relies on judgement and peoples perceptions can be very varied ,
I do not intend a slur on Psychologists ,
they are very learn ed and caring people. and would not knowingly give a wrong analysis of a problem

. However they are human,so are not always infallible .

>^,,^<

Answer 9

No even psychologist go into preconcieved ideas. I don't think psychology has actually been recognise as a science yet and it frightens a lot of people.