WikiInfoLit Unit 5 Page 2
Objectivity, Neutrality, and Bias
In the last unit, we learned about neutrality, which means impartiality or balance. A neutral point of view is one that presents all possible positions without favoring any of them. Just to be confusing, the word objectivity is often used when neutrality is meant. They couldn't be more different. Objectivity has nothing to do with balance or fairness. Objectivity is about whether something is true based on evidence and logic. In fact, about the only thing neutrality and objectivity have in common is that they are both meant to counteract bias.
Bias is "systematic error." If twenty archers fire arrows and they all hit the bullseye, that is not biased; it is just correct. If twenty blindfolded archers fire arrows and they hit all over the place, that is not biased; it is just incorrect. But if twenty blindfolded archers fired arrows and they all hit a spot twelve inches to the left of the bullseye, that would be bias. Something must be happening to not only have all those errors, but have them all err in the exact same way.
Objectivity tries to eliminate the causes of bias in research design and research reporting, and to compensate or correct for bias by requiring evidence and chains of reasoning.