Biases and assumptions are crucial concerns in the research field. The phenomenon poses many challenges in various professional areas, including education, health and wellness, social and cultural aspect, and mental health. Bias and assumptions occur at different stages of the research, such as data collection, population sampling, and analysis of collected data. Researchers may have personal hypotheses and preferences that alter and influence an investigation’s outcome in many instances. Other times, the investigator may be influenced by public opinion or societal perspectives based on assumptions. In this regard, the study loses its significance and credibility due to the impartiality of the data collected and analyzed. This essay discusses confirmation bias and the importance of understanding biasness during an investigation to avoid making assumptions that could lead to undependable research outcomes.
Many individuals commonly judge others according to their social background, ethnicity, culture, and societal perspectives. People judge others due to general knowledge or personal interactions, which may influence their perception. In my recent research investigating the causes of obesity, I realized that assumptions could lead to unreliable data. I always believed obesity results from overeating, laziness, and unhealthy lifestyles, accumulating unwanted fats. At the same time, I had a personal belief that there are more obese women than men since women spend little time in physical activity and are more exposed to food while preparing and cooking meals. I assumed obesity is a self-inflicted problem due to gluttonous behaviors, a lack of self-control, and laziness despite the data presenting more significant causes of obesity, such as metabolic syndrome. A research peer tried to reason with me that poor people are obese due to a lack of economic resources to live a healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, I was convinced by my assumptions that obesity results from laziness, which occurs in more women than men.
I learned from this experience that I had a communal reinforcement bias towards the topic under investigation. Gao (2020) defines communal reinforcement bias as a social phenomenon where society repeatedly asserts a belief or conceit regarding a particular group, community, or phenomenon regardless of sufficient evidence to support the claim. The concept becomes reinforced in society over time, taking root in people’s minds, and becomes a fact without further investigation (Gao, 2020). Consequently, the media and other publications may play a significant role in spearing the idea, making it seem real regardless of the truth. Thus, my opinion was influenced by the majority’s view regarding obesity, leading to significant matters about the disease.
It is imperative to be aware of biases during an investigation. Understanding biasness is necessary for preventing assumptions that could negatively influence the outcome of a study. At the same time, assumptions can lead to undependable research outcomes, which could affect people’s health and life, particularly in a community’s social, psychological, health, and wellness aspects (Gao, 2020). It is essential to be aware of bias to correct, overcome and give informed statements about a situation (Gao, 2020). For instance, the confirmation bias I had towards obese people was a misinformed assumption that could lead to discrimination and psychological consequences on the study population. Understanding bias helps be courteous of other people’s feelings and factors that led to their predicament instead of forming assumptions based on personal hypotheses, influencing the research outcomes.
To sum up, bias and assumptions during research are widely discussed concerns as they affect the outcome of the subject under study. Although many individuals possess biasness in their judgment, the source of the phenomenon remains unclear and requires utmost awareness to avoid assumptions. Social, confirmation, communal reinforcement, and ingroup biases can cause harm making it necessary to understand factors that cause biased thinking and how to avoid them. Understanding biasness helps individuals confront and learn from their assumptions leading to positive outcomes in an investigation. Ultimately, understanding bias allows a researcher to have diverse views and make informed reports about an investigation that can be dependable.
Reference
Gao, Z. (2020). Researcher biases. The Wiley encyclopedia of personality and individual differences, 37–41.