Evaluating Bias In Research Due Week 3 And Worth 60 P 675243

Evaluating Bias in Research Due Week 3 and worth 60 points

Read the article titled, “As drug industry’s influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias,” located at . Review the six (6) rules of critical thinking (Chapter 1) and the steps of “Doing Sociology: A Student’s Guide to Research” (Chapter 2). Student success tip: As you review the steps, jot a few notes or thoughts down.

Write a concise and accurate essay (1-2 pages) in which you:

• Identify the first step in the student’s guide to research.
• Define the first step of research in your own words.
• Identify the major assumptions and bias of the drug industry that underlie drug research.
• Identify the personal bias that you, as a consumer, have on the drug industry’s influence over research.

Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman font size 12, with one-inch margins on all sides. Only use the article from The Washington Post and the sections noted in your text as sources; APA citations or references are not required. Include a cover page with the title of the assignment, your name, your professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page does not count toward the 1-2 page length.

Paper For Above instruction

The initial step in conducting research, as outlined in the student’s guide to research, involves formulating a clear and focused research question or problem. This foundational step sets the direction for the entire research process by identifying what the researcher seeks to understand or investigate. In my own words, this step is about pinpointing a specific issue, curiosity, or hypothesis that guides the subsequent stages of inquiry. It transforms a broad interest into a precise question, laying the groundwork for systematic investigation, data collection, and analysis.

The article “As drug industry’s influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias” highlights several biases and assumptions prevalent within the pharmaceutical industry. A primary assumption is that the industry often prioritizes profits over unbiased scientific inquiry. This profit-driven motive can lead to selective reporting of results that favor their products, suppression of negative findings, and funding of studies that produce favorable outcomes. Furthermore, there’s an underlying bias that favorable research outcomes are more likely to be published and publicized, which diminishes transparency and can mislead medical professionals and consumers about the true efficacy and safety of certain drugs. These biases are further compounded by conflicts of interest, where financial ties between researchers and drug companies influence study designs, interpretation of data, and clinical recommendations.

As a consumer, I recognize a personal bias rooted in my trust in scientific evidence and my concerns about the integrity of corporate-funded research. I tend to assume that regulatory agencies and independent researchers work diligently to ensure integrity and objectivity. However, exposure to the article and awareness of industry biases can lead me to approach pharmaceutical research with a more critical mindset. I am more cautious about accepting claims at face value and inclined to seek out additional sources or peer-reviewed studies to verify findings. This awareness makes me more skeptical of marketing strategies and emphasizes the importance of transparency and independent verification in scientific research.

Overall, understanding the first step of research and being cognizant of industry biases are essential for critically evaluating scientific findings and making informed decisions as consumers and members of society.

References

• Washington Post. (Year). As drug industry’s influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias. Retrieved from [URL]
• Chapman, S., & Dube, L. (2015). Doing Sociology: A Student’s Guide to Research. Publisher.
• Crotty, M. (1998). The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. Sage.
• Flick, U. (2018). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Sage.
• Gerrish, K., & Lacey, A. (2019). The Research Process in Nursing. Wiley Blackwell.
• Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Pearson.
• Babbie, E. (2015). The Practice of Social Research. Cengage Learning.
• Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative Research. Sage.
• Vogt, W. P., & Johnson, R. B. (2015). The Sage Dictionary of Social Research Methods. Sage.
• World Health Organization. (2014). Ethical considerations in health research. Retrieved from [URL]