Discuss, with an example of each, the issues that can arise when conducting research —objectivity and bias, overstating results, and professional ethics. Explain how universities try to limit some of these problems

Question

Please provide the best answer for the statement.

Answer 1

1. Strive for objectivity to ensure that prejudices or assumptions do not contaminate the research. The researcher will always have some effect on the research, for example, by choosing a topic that interests the researcher. However, the researcher should strive for value neutrality to keep his or her biases and values from distorting the research.
2. Avoid overstating the results by trying to generalize findings from a small group to a larger population or by inferring causation from correlation.
3. Maintain professional ethics by not being influenced by a funding source, not harming research participants, seeking informed consent (though this can be waived if the subjects will not be harmed and full information would affect the results), informing research participants that they may stop at any time (continuous consent), preserving confidentiality and promising anonymity, not deceiving subjects (unless there is no harm and they are debriefed afterward), and ensuring appropriate treatment of protected groups such as children, college students, and prisoners.
4. Universities have IRBs (institutional review boards) that review proposed research to ensure that issues and professional ethics will be handled appropriately.