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GCSE Psychology · key term
A systematic influence that distorts research findings away from an accurate account of what is being studied.
Used by OCR
Paper 1, Paper 2
Revise: Sources of BiasBias is a systematic influence that distorts findings: the results may reflect assumptions, expectations or unfair features of the method rather than the behaviour being studied. Bias can enter when researchers select participants, design materials, ask questions, observe behaviour or interpret results. It need not be deliberate.
Identify the specific source of bias, explain how it could distort the data, then link it to the conclusion. Simply saying ‘the study is biased’ is not enough.
Keep observer bias separate from the observer effect: bias concerns the observer’s selection or interpretation of behaviour; the observer effect concerns participants changing their behaviour.
Match each improvement to the problem: neutral questions tackle questioning bias, while clearly defined behaviour categories tackle observer bias.
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