SOC 213 Module 2 Assignment: Personal Bias
Overview: Researchers aim to limit personal biases as much as possible, if not completely. This is difficult in any field, perhaps particularly in sociology, as the
researcher is unable to remove themselves completely from the subject matter: social interaction. Due to this, the researcher must take steps to identify and
limit their biases as much as possible. For this assignment, you will watch a video clip on objectivity in research and respond to the questions below in a short
paper. This paper should reflect your educated opinion, so you must also include references for any sources you use. You may also include any personal
experience you have in regard to the elements below. You will then choose a sociological theory, Conflict Theory, Functionalist Theory, Interactionist Theory, and
address how, by using that theory, you can limit personal bias in your research.
Prompt: In a Word document, answer the questions below:
1. Is complete objectivity impossible to achieve? Why or why not?
2. How does culture (religion, learned appropriate social responses, etiquette), environment (where you were born, friends, family structure), and personal
characteristics (race, gender, socioeconomical status) effect objectivity?
3. Should a researcher strive for complete objectivity? Why or why not?
4. How can you limit personal bias using the sociological theory you selected?
Guidelines for Submission: Submit your answers to the questions above in a Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and oneinch margins.
Critical Elements
Achievement of
Complete Objectivity
Proficient (100%)
Discusses whether or not complete
objectivity is impossible to achieve
and provides rationale
Effect on Objectivity
Explains how culture, environment,
and personal characteristics effect
objectivity using adequate detail
Researcher Goal
Limit Personal Bias
Discusses whether or not a researcher
should strive for complete objectivity
using adequate detail to justify
response
Discusses how personal bias can be
limited using a chosen sociological
theory using adequate detail
Needs Improvement (75%)
Discusses whether or not complete
objectivity is impossible to achieve, but
response lacks adequate detail or
support
Explain how culture, environment, and
personal characteristics effect
objectivity, but explanation is cursory or
lacks adequate detail
Discusses whether or not a researcher
should strive for complete objectivity,
but does not provide explanation or use
detail to justify response
Discusses how personal bias can be
limited using a chosen sociological
theory, but discussion is cursory or lacks
adequate detail
Not Evident (0%)
Does not discuss whether or not
complete objectivity is impossible
to achieve
Value
20
Does not explain how culture,
environment, and personal
characteristics effect objectivity
20
Does not discuss whether or not a
researcher should strive for
complete objectivity
20
Does not discuss how personal bias
can be limited using a chosen
sociological theory
20
Writing
Submission is mostly free of errors of
organization, grammar and citations;
errors are marginal and rarely
interrupt the flow
Submission contains errors of
organization, grammar, or citations, but
errors are limited enough so that
submission can be understood
Submission contains errors of
organization, grammar or citations
that make the submission difficult
to understand
20
100%
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