If complete objectivity in research is not possible to achieve does it mean that fair and unbiased research cannot be done? Is all research necessarily biased?
2007-01-31 15:21:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Absolutely...but I don't believe that it is always intentional.
2007-01-31 15:24:10 · answer #1 · answered by Greed...Is Good 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on that kind of research paper you are doing. If you are doing an informative research paper, there are ways to avoid being biased as you really should only be using factual information. However, a persuasive research paper (the kind most high school and college professors make you do) can definitely be biased and rightfully so. You are basically using justified information for your cause. Unless you are changing the sources you use, it's relatively ethical. However, there is definitely inaccurate information and sources out there. These sources can be used for your benefit. Also, out-dated information can also serve this purpose.
There are many books, articles, websites that can serve you well for your research paper... but by having to persuade, it is your job to use that information the best you can to prove your point. It's the basics of debate and argumentation. Know your information, use it wisely but ethically. It's key. It's not manipulation. Think of Michael Moore movies... he uses information to persuade his audience but he tactfully leaves out other details that divert his opinions and ocassionaly obscures statements by cutting them off before they reach their point to make the sentences sound "in his favor" -- is it morally wrong? Probably. Does it work? Certainly, and that's human nature.
2007-01-31 15:29:18 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ariel♥ish♥ness♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much, but that doesn't make it invalid. To begin a research project you have to have a question, what that question is depends on the asker, who can't help but inject their own thoughts and opinions into it. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as they follow the scientific method, which will weed out the personal stuff. A lot of scientific research is about proving ideas *wrong*, and that adds to the total sum of knowledge as well. Most discoveries have been made because an individual had his/her own idea or opinion about something and set out to prove it right or wrong. How else would we ever start on anything?
2007-01-31 15:30:29 · answer #3 · answered by AmigaJoe 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So? Bias can be controlled for and held to a minimum. Do you get rid of a new car with one scratch on it? Think of research as the mean of a normally distributed curve, Think of bias as being 0.02 standard deviations from the mean, either way. It is not a dichotomy, but a matter of continuous thinking.
2007-01-31 15:42:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All opinions are biased. The key is to weight bias according to the author. A Rhodes Scholar told me once that,after graduating, all he learned was to be skeptical about everything. Wise lesson!
2007-01-31 15:27:11 · answer #5 · answered by waynebudd 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Variables can be controlled for, and that's the most that anyone can hope to achieve. Bias on the part of the researcher can be subconscious, don't forget. Subconscious bias can't be controlled for.
2007-01-31 15:27:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good idea
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2007-01-31 15:24:11 · answer #7 · answered by Rashad G 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋