1 Appropriate Use of First Person and Avoiding Bias Beth Oyler, Writing Specialist

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33 Agenda First person or personal pronouns: I, me, my Appropriate uses Inappropriate uses Bias Objectivity Ways to avoid bias

44 Use of First Person: Background Allowed by both Walden and APA Section 3.09 in APA Manual Walden Handbook, p. 176, 178 Only when appropriate

55 Considerations Undergraduate students Assignment requirements Professor preferences

66 When to Use the First Person Avoid “the author” and “the researcher” The author talked to the principal. → I talked to the principal. The researcher will develop a management plan. → I will develop a management plan. The author sent the surveys to the participants. → I sent the surveys to the participants.

77 After-school programs can be essential to students’ physical fitness, as well as their education. Gortmaker (2012) found that when physical fitness was integrated with after-school programs, students’ activity levels increased by 10 minutes. The researcher will use this model to implement a similar program in the researcher’s school district. By continuing the author’s focus on physical fitness in educational after-school programs, the author will show the effectiveness of integrating the two focuses.

88 After-school programs can be essential to students’ physical fitness, as well as their education. Gortmaker (2012) found that when physical fitness was integrated with after-school programs, students’ activity levels increased by 10 minutes. I will use this model to implement a similar program in my own school district. By continuing Gortmaker’s focus on physical fitness in educational after-school programs, I will show the effectiveness of integrating the two focuses.

99 When to Use the First Person This paper will examine… → In this paper, I will examine… This section will explore… → In this section, I will explore… Avoid Anthropomorphism: Attributing human actions to nonhuman things.

10 When to Use the First Person → I will do this… → I will show that… → I will summarize this… → I will conclude with… To explain what you will do or show in a paper.

11 When to Use the First Person A healthcare initiative will be suggested. → I will suggest a healthcare initiative. Three education theories will be analyzed. → I will analyze three education theories. Ways that time will be managed will be explained by me. → I will explain ways that I will manage my time. Avoid Passive voice: Emphasis on the object, not subject, of a sentence.

12 This section explores the theories of positivism, functionalism, and social construction, after which their applicability to national health care will be analyzed. The author also compares these theories to her hospital, illustrating that functionalism is most appropriate for this organization. Putting It All Together What parts of this paragraph would you revise? (Choose all that apply!)

13 Putting It All Together In this section I explore the theories of positivism, functionalism, and social construction, after which I analyze their applicability to national health care. I also compare these theories to my hospital, illustrating that functionalism is most appropriate for my organization.

14 Questions? Up Next: When not to use first person.

15 Inappropriate Use of First Person Sometimes weakens your argument May be perceived as bias

16 Inappropriate Use of First Person Instead, ground your statements in logic and evidence. Opinions: Using “I think”, “I believe,” or “I feel” statements and failing to use evidence to support ideas.

17 I feel that public policymakers’ reluctance to tackle global warming shows how beholden they are to the corporate interests.

18 The public should analyze policymakers’ motivations regarding global warming. As Walker (2012) found, U.S. public policymakers who oppose efforts to limit global warming tended to receive significantly more in campaign contributions from energy companies than their peers.

19 I found several studies (Marks, 2011; Isaac, 2005; Stuart, 2012) that pointed to the consumption of white bread as a possible cause of certain cancers.

20 Results of several recent studies (Marks, 2011; Isaac, 2005; Stuart, 2012) suggested a link between white bread consumption and certain cancers.

21 Questions? Up Next: Objectivity and Avoiding Bias

22 Objectivity and Avoiding Bias Objectivity is The standard for social science publication Different from non-academic sources Objectivity is not Passionless or robotic Missing your voice

23 Objectivity and Avoiding Bias Maintain objectivity by Using the first person appropriately Avoiding bias in your writing

24 Bias: Working Definition Bias: According to APA (2010), “scientific writing must be free of implied or irrelevant evaluation of the group or groups being studied” (p. 233).

25 Avoiding Bias People from Tennessee are obsessed with football. → Many Tennesseans are avid fans of football (Manning, 2009). Generalizations: Statements that oversimplify a situation or ignore outliers, sometimes called “blanket statements”.

26 Avoiding Bias Third-grade boys are chronically disruptive, while the girls are always eager to please. → In Clooney’s (2008) study of Kansas City third-graders, 35% of the boys and 68% of the girls were able to complete instructions for a tedious assignment without showing signs of agitation. Using Evidence: Answer the question Says who? or According to who? for your reader.

27 Avoiding Bias Assumptions about professions Beliefs about specific populations Preference for familiar people/situations Over sympathizing Awareness of Background: Know what biases you bring to the discussion. Ask what influences your perception of ideas and situations.

28 Why Avoid Bias? Don’t want to offend your reader Want your reader to see you as an authority Want to be, and appear to be, open-minded

29 Further Suggestions Use preferred labels Avoid objectification and slurs Use people-first language Autistic person → Person with autism

30 Questions? Now: Q&A Box Later: Recording of Webinar

31 Resources Detailed APA guidelines: –Point of view (APA 3.09) –Gender (APA 3.12) –Racial and Ethnic Identity (APA 3.14) –Disabilities (APA 3.15) –Age (APA 3.16) –Guidelines for Unbiased Language at Point of view Passive voice Scholarly voice Anthropomorphism and expression Anthropomorphism and expression Academic writing blog posts Academic writing blog posts