[MitchellC]

This is why researchers rely on peer review. Because results must be reproduceable by other researchers, this process has a tendency to iron out any personal biases that may have creeped in. It ain't perfect, but it's darn close.

I see. But is it possible, in your opinion, that the researcher could share with all of his or her peers a bias that is in error and that, instead of being spotted and ironed out, ends up being pushed blindly?

[Junior]

In a large-enough group (and there are literally thousands of biologists alone), personal perceptions will run the entire spectrum. Hell, as can be seen from our Biblical discussions, personal perceptions run the entire gamut. No two people ever see the world in exactly the same way, but a fairly accurate view of reality can be gleaned from comparing each of those individual's perceptions. Hence, peer review.