Question

What is the best way to avoid bias in an experimental study?

Answer 1

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY:

It is a research in which researcher selects the sample group , manipulates independent variable and observes out put variable. Whole process is under researcher's eyeview.

What is bias in Experimental studies?

Experimental study is maintaining by humans. Doing mistakes is the basic nature of humans. We can't work accuarately all the time as machines. So lot of mistakes will occur while doing experiment. These mistakes causes confounds. Those confounds results change in out put variable. Therefore Experimental study will be wasted.

TYPES OF BIASES AND BEST WAY TO AVOID THOSE BIASES:

1.Design bias

2.Section/sampling bias

3.Procedural bias

4.Measurement bias

5.Interviewer bias

6.Response bias

7.Reporting bias

1. DESIGN BIAS:

To do any experiment we have to design the experiment first. Total experiment will be executed based on this design. If any error occured in design manipulates the output variable. So we have to design experiment perfectly to avoid this bias.

2.SELECTING/SAMPLING BIAS:

  We have to select sample group to do experiment. In many studies sample group will be people. Basically people will have lot of differences from person to person. Then out put will be manipulated based on this differences rather than independent variable. So we have to select sample group carefully to avoid sample bias.

3.PROCEDURAL BIAS:

If we applied pressure on researchers or pariticipants then they will feel tension, focuses on completion of procedure rather than validity. That influences output variable . To avoid this procedural bias we should give free hand to the researchers and participants.

4.MEASUREMENT BIAS:

Mistakes in the process of measuring readings also gives false conclusions. Errors in instruments we using for research causes false readings.Errors in researcher observation also causes measurement bias. To avoid this bias we have to check the validity of instruments and researchers.

5.INTERVIEWER BIAS:

  While interviewer asking questions to the participants he may give clues with his facial expressions to right and wrong answers subconciously. If participant observed this he gives answers based on that expressions rather than questions. To avoid this bias we should follow Double blind experiment .

6.RESPONSE BIAS:

   In this process participants gives responses in observer desirable manner rather than their natural charecteristics. To avoid this we have to use deceptive researches That participants will don't know the actual goal of research.

7.REPORTING BIAS:

In the process of changing actual readings into understandable readings there is a chance to occur error. To avoid this we have to use accurate methods in statistics to deal readings.