identifying & avoiding biases

Question 1

sampling bias

Answer 1

A sample that does not accurately represent the population

Question 2

confirmation bias

Answer 2

The tendency to look for or interpret information that supports one’s pre-existing
beliefs

Question 3

social desirability bias

Answer 3

Respondents answer in ways that they believe are more socially acceptable or
favorable

Question 4

self-selection bias

Answer 4

occurs when participants choose whether or not to participate, often resulting in
an unrepresentative sample.

Question 5

overgeneralization

Answer 5

Drawing broad conclusions from limited data

Question 6

why can confirmation bias be particularly problematic in sociological research

Answer 6

worsen social exclusion and tensions (ex. in-group bias)

Question 7

example of social desirability bias and a strategy for reducing it in surveys

Answer 7

asking someone “Do you always recycle?” where they might answer “yes” even if they don’t consistently recycle. you could use indirect questioning like “How often do you think most people in your neighborhood recycle? which may lead to more reliable answers as its not their own behavior

Question 8

How does self-selection bias threaten the representativeness of a sample?

Answer 8

• individuals more interested in a study’s topic are more likely to join
• skewed sample; makes your sample unrepresentative of your population of interest

Question 9

what research practices help mitigate overgeneralization?

Answer 9

Use Representative Sampling
Increase Sample Size
Use Mixed Methods
Clearly Define the Target Population
Use Replication Studies
Apply Rigorous Data Analysis
Acknowledge Study Limitations
Use Peer Review and Expert Feedback

Question 10

selective observation

Answer 10

• Noticing only social patterns that one has experienced directly or wishes to find
  Confirmation bias

Question 11

nonrespondents

Answer 11

Individuals who decline to answer questions for a survey or in-depth interview or who cannot be reached by researchers

Question 12

nonresponse bias

Answer 12

When respondents and nonrespondents differ in important ways, which means that the relevant characteristics observed in the sample differ from those in the target population

Question 13

self-selection bias

Answer 13

• When certain types of people are more likely to volunteer for (or be selected into) a sample
  Ex. people with strong opinions on an issue may be more likely to participate in a study

Question 14

attrition bias

Answer 14

When the participants who leave a study tend to come from particular subgroups, thereby undermining the representativeness of the study’s sample