HST250H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Observational Error, Demand Characteristics
Document Summary
Bias: preference or predisposition to favour a conclusion. Bias can be present in research such as: identifying of variables, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting research. At times, social scientists feel pressured to provide an explanation even though there is very little evidence. Researcher affect: danger of researchers falling in love with a particular explanation for some relationship. Bias in selection of problem- issue is believed to be more important than others. Bias in sampling design- selecting a bias group to research; i. e. caused by sexism. Bias in funding- granting agency have bias in who they grant research money towards due to different values and wants; i. e. science is funded more than social science. Bias in data collection- experimenter effect occur from behaviour expectation and recording errors. Androcentricity: presenting the world from an exclusively male perspective. Overspecificity: single-sex terms used to describe situations applicable to both sex. Familism: involving treating family as unit of analysis when it is individuals.
