Identifying Bias in Research: A Chernobyl Case Study

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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R6805

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History

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Apr 3, 2024

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The brainstorming process that I used to identify bias in my primary and secondary sources started with myself. I took a few of the bias tests from a few modules ago shared with us in Brightspace which I was surprised at the results of some of my own unconscious bias. Starting out with researching and finding my sources, I was trying to check myself for my own biases to help prevent confirmation bias from occurring in what I was researching. I think that bias is impossible to eliminate but being more aware can help reduce the impact bias can have on research. I got off to a rough start with my chosen topic, and initially was having some difficulty in understanding what was being asked of us in our early assignments. I also didn’t have much knowledge to build off of regarding my topic, but that has changed drastically over the weeks. The more I learn the easier it is to find the resources that will be beneficial, because I now am able to use the right kind of key words when I’m searching for sources related to my topic. A big part of my strategy has to do with using the right wording in searches, to find the information that would be most useful. One of the biggest challenges for me personally, I failed to really comprehend how complicated and complex my chosen topic is. I picked Chernobyl and I originally thought I had some understanding of the event but quickly realized that what I previously knew about it was so limited and minimal. One of the biggest things that posed a problem to me in terms of finding the right kind of sources is there is a language barrier for many of the primary sources, and they are very limited and somewhat biased and pro communist when I do find them. For example, in the

first address to the Soviet people after Chernobyl happened, I was able to uncover the original transcripts translated to English of the first address regarding Chernobyl from Gorbachev to the Soviet people. It was so out of touch with the reality of the situation, for example he is quoted saying “I have every reason to say that, despite the gravity of what happened, the damage turned out to be limited, largely because of the courage and skill of our people, their loyalty to duty and the well-coordinated action being taken by everybody involved in dealing with the aftermath of the accident.” (Gorbachev, 1986). Yet years prior to the accident, during the construction of Chernobyl, there were communications being sent between sections of the communist government amongst different departments withing the KGB. Specifically concerns from one part of the government being expressed to another part of the government in what was supposed to be confidential at the time. It was a warning about major structural flaws occurring during the construction of Chernobyl. In the citation below, you will see the evidence I found about the former Soviet Union being aware that there were major violations occurring in the construction of Chernobyl specifically mentioning the flawed building structure and it was something members of the government were fully informed of the potential for a disaster of that magnitude being possible due to major structural concerns in the building process : “Construction Flaws at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant [AES] According to data in the possession of the KGB of the USSR, design deviations and violations of construction and assembly technology are occurring at various places in the construction of the second generating unit of the Chernobyl AES, and these could lead to mishaps and accidents.” (Andropov, 1979). Had they taken corrective action when this was communicated, Chernobyl wouldn’t have occurred. It all came down to what the priorities of the

former Soviet Union were leading up to the collapse. The priorities of a nation on the brink of a collapse had placed saving money or operating as inexpensive as possible to come before safety or quality. One of the voices missing from my narrative would be one coming from the biggest victims in this event, the Soviet people. Those who had to experience such hostility and betrayal from their government when encountering this historical event. Those who were trying to spread the truth or share facts. Risking their lives to save other people’s lives by just telling the truth about what they had experienced and the things they had uncovered that the government was desperate to minimize and downplay. To such an extent that those who were genuinely sick from the radiation, if they had suggested that was what ailed them, then they were tortured and being labeled as having sever mental illness trying to deter anyone from speaking up about the reality of it. Many people were endangered by the lack of transparency, lack of accountability and total disregard for human life the former Soviet Union had for their own citizens. Many people believed that the government had it under control just because they told them they did. Many people didn’t expect that they were at risk of illnesses or long-term effects from the disaster because their government was lying to them and told them they were not endangered by the event when they absolutely were. Works Cited: Andropov, U. (1979, February 21). Translation of Memorandum on Chernobyl Construction . Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/trans-n2constr.html

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Gorbachev, M. (1986, May 14). First Address on Chernobyl . Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1985-2/meltdown-in-chernobyl/meltdown-in-chernobyl-texts/first- address-on-chernobyl/

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