A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

What is the term for when a researcher imposes their values on the research process?

1. Research bias

2. Researcher imposition

3. Data manipulation

4. Sampling error

The correct answer is: Researcher imposition

The term for when a researcher imposes their values on the research process is best described as researcher imposition. This concept refers to the influence a researcher's personal beliefs, values, or biases can have on various stages of the research, including the formulation of the research question, the design of the study, the interpretation of data, and the presentation of findings. Researcher imposition can lead to ethical concerns, particularly if it results in a distortion of the research outcomes or impacts the validity of the study. While research bias also relates to the influence of the researcher’s values, it generally encompasses a broader range of potential distortions in the research process. Data manipulation pertains to deliberately altering data to achieve a desired outcome, which is a different issue regarding ethical research practice. Sampling error refers to errors that arise from using a sample that does not accurately represent the population, affecting the generalizability of results rather than the imposition of the researcher’s values. Given this context, researcher imposition specifically captures the idea of the researcher’s values directly affecting the research process.