Identifying Bias

Will the following give bias answers?

Question: What is your favorite sport?

Group: People who play soccer

• Yes because they play soccer so they are likely to say it is their favorite sport

• No because playing the sport will not influence their opinion

Will this give bias answers?

Question: What is your favorite soft drink?

Group: Picking names out of a telephone book

• Yes because the people randomly selected in the phone book is a pre-selected group.

• No because the people in the phone book would be randomly selected and not based on anything else.

Would this get a biased response?

Question: Should more money be put into athletic programs or music programs?

Group: Students in the band program

• Yes because they only asked students in the band program, so their opinion is likely to be band.

• No because they could be randomly selected band students.

Reading for pleasure is a waste of time. However, 63% of people who spend a hour of reading will see an increase in their test scores because of the practice time spent reading. Which is a biased statement?

• Reading for pleasure is a waste of time.

• 63% of people who spend a hour of reading will see an increase in their test scores because of the practice time spent reading.

About 60% of Americans have a daily vitamin because of the proven support it gives your body. I believe vitamins are a waste of money because I can get vitamins from food sources. Which is a biased statement?

• About 60% of Americans have a daily vitamin because of the proven support it gives your body.

• I believe vitamins are a waste of money because I can get vitamins from food sources.

I just got back from soccer practice, and when I was there my friends and I agreed that soccer is the best sport to play. We believe it is the best sport to play because of the running and coordination it takes to play. Which is a biased statement?

• ... my friends and I agreed that soccer is the best sport to play.

• We believe it is the best sport to play because of the running and coordination it takes to play.

Which is a biased statement about social studies?

• Social Studies includes American and World History, Current Events, Government, Geography, and Psychology.

• Social Studies is the best subject the school teaches.

In a news article you noticed that the author left out important information or facts. What type of bias could this be?

• Bias by labeling

• Bias by placement

• Bias by omission

• Bias by labeling

The newspaper decided to place a story above-the-fold so that you saw that story first. What type of bias could this be?

• Bias by omission

• Bias by story selection

• Bias by selection of sources

• Bias by placement

The author of the story takes the facts of the story and turns them to support their agenda or opinion. What type of bias could this be?

• Bias by spin

• Bias by labeling

• Bias by omission

• Bias by selection of sources