Bias is a limitation in objective thinking.

It is a tendency to perceive information through a cognitive filter shaped by experience and preference.

Bias can occur within psychological research and within human behaviour itself.

Bias may be implicit or explicit, so it is not always consciously recognized.

Important research-related forms include researcher bias and participant bias.

Sampling bias concerns bias associated with the sample used in research.

Confirmation bias is another bias psychologists should consider during the research process.

Publication bias may also influence the body of psychological research available.

These biases should be considered when judging the conduct, analysis and interpretation of research.

Gender bias can occur within clinical psychology.

Cultural bias can also affect clinical psychology.

These biases can influence diagnosis.

They may distort reported prevalence statistics.

They can also affect treatment.

When evaluating psychological claims, consider whether findings or practices may reflect gender or cultural bias.

Cognitive biases can affect everyday choices.

They may be applied when there is insufficient time, information or motivation to make a decision.

Anchoring bias can affect thinking and decision-making.

Representativeness bias can affect thinking and decision-making.

Availability bias can affect thinking and decision-making.

These examples show how bias can operate within behaviour itself, not only within research.

Psychologists should be aware of bias throughout the research process.

Bias can affect how research is conducted.

It can influence how research results are analysed.

It can also influence how findings are interpreted.

Recognizing a bias is not enough; psychologists should understand how the bias affects the research.

Creating controls for bias is an important part of psychological research.

Psychological research attempts to be objective.

However, psychologists recognize that much collected data can be subjective.

Bias may operate implicitly, without being consciously recognized.

Bias may also be explicit, making its influence more apparent.

Exam evaluation should consider both the presence of bias and attempts to control its effects.

Psychologists may show bias toward a particular psychological perspective.

Such bias can result in reductionism.

Related terms for Bias include biological determinism and environmental determinism.

The syllabus also links Bias with reductionism versus holism.

These ideas help students consider whether an explanation privileges one perspective or level of explanation over alternatives.

The Bias concept is linked with sampling techniques.

Research-quality terms include credibility, reflexivity and inter-rater reliability.

The syllabus also identifies positivism as a related term.

Other linked terminology includes cognitive biases, determinism, and reductionism versus holism.

Use these terms where they make a clearly relevant connection to bias.