Bias

Evaluating for Bias

Bias is everywhere. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate bias to determine if it is negatively influencing your research. Here are some questions to ask.

Find the Source

• Who owns/produces/publishes the source?
• Is it associated with any political or religious organizations?
• Where is it published?

Learn About the Author

• Who is the author? Are their credentials provided?
• Is the author qualified to speak on this topic?
• Does the author belong to organizations that may influence their point of view?

Identify the Purpose

• What is the purpose of the source/the article? 
• Is it meant to inform, educate, persuade, or sell something?
• Who is the intended audience? 

Look for Evidence

• Does the author provide supporting evidence, such as facts, quotes from experts, or statistics?
• Does the author refer to research studies or historical events?
• Does the article present both sides of view or is it mainly one-sided?
• Can you see where they got their evidence through links or citations?
• Are their sources biased?

Pay Attention to Language

• Is there a political or religious slant in the content?
• What type of language is being used? Does the author use strong language or hyperbole?
• Does the author use inflammatory or offensive terms?

Evaluating for Bias in Your Own Research

Be careful to avoid bias when researching. For example, watch how you word your research question. Consider these two research questions:

How do social media harm teenagers? 

How does social media influence teenagers?

The first question uses the word "harm," which means the researcher will just be looking for evidence that shows social media harms teenagers. In contrast, the second question provides space for the researcher to potentially find evidence for the positive and negative influences of social media.

Word choice matters when researching. To discover evidence from all points of view, avoiding using biased language in your own research.