Shaw, Jamie and Fernández Pinto, Manuela and Wilholt, Torsten (2026) Biases in Scientific Inquiry. Perspectives on Science. ISSN 1063-6145

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review, organize, and analyze disparate kinds of biases that can impact the quality of scientific research. We offer an analysis of what constitutes a bias and then provide a novel taxonomy of biases in science based on the criteria used to individuate them in the literature, i.e., based on the different criteria researchers use to identify biases. We identify five criteria: mechanism, effect, content, stage, and feature. We then conceptualize the impact of different biases using the notion of a ‘research pipeline.’ Furthermore, we identify a type of bias that can permeate the research pipeline as a whole, called ‘systemic bias,’ which includes biases that are likely to be more pervasive and thus more difficult to counteract. We conclude by stressing the importance of classifying biases in ways that are epistemically useful for science.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Shaw, Jamie jshaw222@uwo.ca Fernández Pinto, Manuela Wilholt, Torsten torsten.wilholt@philos.uni-hannover.de 0000-0002-0729-5476
Keywords:	biases; inquiry; systemic biases; values
Subjects:	General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > Science and Society
Depositing User:	Jamie Shaw
Date Deposited:	14 Apr 2026 13:07
Last Modified:	14 Apr 2026 13:07
Item ID:	29103
Journal or Publication Title:	Perspectives on Science
Subjects:	General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > Science and Society
Date:	2026
ISSN:	1063-6145
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29103

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