Week 2 Assignment 1 Submission Students Please View The Subm
Week 2 Assignment 1 Submissionstudents Please View The Submit A Clic
Review the article titled, “As drug industry’s influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias,” located at
- Identifies the first step in the student’s guide to research and defines it in your own words.
- Explores the major assumptions and biases of the drug industry that influence drug research.
- Reflects on your personal bias regarding the drug industry’s influence over research as a consumer.
Follow these formatting requirements: typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font size 12, with one-inch margins. Include a cover page with the assignment title, your name, professor’s name, course title, and date; the cover page is not part of the 1-2 page requirement. For this assignment, use only the article from The Washington Post and the sections noted in your textbook; APA citations are not necessary.
Paper For Above instruction
The influence of the pharmaceutical industry on medical research has been a topic of increasing concern, particularly regarding potential biases that may distort scientific findings and impact patient care. This essay explores the initial step in the research process as outlined in the “Doing Sociology” guide, examines the underlying biases of the drug industry, and reflects on personal biases about this influence.
The first step in the research process, as presented in the “Doing Sociology” guide, involves identifying the problem or question to be studied. In my own words, this means recognizing an issue or phenomenon that warrants investigation and framing it into a specific research question. This foundational step guides the entire research process, ensuring that inquiry is focused and purposeful. By clarifying the problem, researchers can determine what data to gather and what methods to employ, thereby setting a clear direction for their study.
Regarding the drug industry, several major assumptions and biases underpin their research practices. A primary assumption is that pharmaceutical companies prioritize profit, which can lead to selective funding and publication of studies that favor their products. This bias favors research outcomes that demonstrate efficacy and safety to promote sales, while negative or inconclusive results may be suppressed or underreported. Furthermore, the industry often relies on sponsorship of clinical trials, which can introduce conflicts of interest, potentially compromising objectivity. These biases are compounded by the tendency to frame drug research in ways that support commercial interests, sometimes at the expense of unbiased scientific inquiry.
As a consumer, I recognize that I may harbor biases shaped by the portrayal of pharmaceutical companies as both providers of essential medicines and entities driven primarily by profit motives. This dual perception influences my skepticism or trust in drug research findings, depending on the source and context. I am aware that my personal bias could either lead me to question research selectively or to accept industry-funded studies uncritically. Being conscious of this bias is essential in evaluating the credibility of drug research and understanding the broader implications of industry influence on medical science.
In conclusion, understanding the initial step in research—the problem identification—helps clarify the foundation of scientific inquiry. Recognizing the assumptions and biases of the drug industry highlights the importance of critical evaluation and ethical considerations in research. Finally, reflecting on personal biases allows for more informed engagement with scientific findings and promotes a nuanced perspective on the complex relationship between industry interests and public health.
References
- Washington Post. (Year). Title of the article. URL.
- Chapter 1: Critical Thinking Rules. [Textbook Author].
- Chapter 2: Doing Sociology: A Student’s Guide to Research. [Textbook Author].
- Benedetti, F., et al. (2011). Influence of the pharmaceutical industry on drug research. Journal of Medical Ethics, 37(7), 413–416.
- Lundh, A., et al. (2017). Conflicts of interest in biomedical research—What the literature tells us. PLoS ONE, 12(12), e0189395.
- Resnik, D. B. (2018). The Ethics of Research with Industry Sponsorship. Accountability in research, 25(2), 102-124.
- Sismondo, S. (2017). How pharmaceutical industry funding affects trial outcomes: Causality and bias. Expert Review of Pharmacisty, 16(5), 533–540.
- Bekelman, J. E., et al. (2003). Scope and impact of financial conflicts of interest in biomedical research: A systematic review. JAMA, 289(4), 454–465.
- Lo, B., & Field, M. J. (Eds.). (2009). Conflicts of interest in medical research, education, and practice. National Academies Press.
- Lexchin, J., et al. (2003). Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: Systematic review. BMJ, 326(7400), 1167–1170.