In the activities 3.3 and 3.4, you learned that methodological standards can address problems arising from incomplete description of research processes or even from lack of some research skills. In this and next activity, we will discuss two other threats to quality: researcher bias and conflict of interest. We start with the former - researcher bias.

Researchers often are not neutral about the problems they study. They often choose a topic that is somehow important to them. (What are the biggest reasons you have for your choice of thesis topic?) For a long time, it has been recognized that scientists cannot step outside of their culture, nor their place in history. That is why social scientists realize that some researcher bias is inevitable, and – if properly reflected – can be also opportunity. In some methodologies, researchers are expected to describe their positionality (where they as a researcher stand in relation to the social/political context of the research project) and/or their reflexivity (how one's background, values, beliefs etc. may have influenced the research process and outcomes). Watch the following video that explains the concept of reflexivity in qualitative research.

 

 

We will return to this topic in the final activity of this learning unit.