Final answer:
The correct answer is option a. To combat bias in college, randomization, peer reviews, standardized testing, and classroom observations are viable methods, with randomization being the most direct approach for fair selection and study design.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify and counteract bias in college, several methods can be employed. One effective approach is through randomization, which can be applied to various aspects such as experimental design and selection processes to ensure that every participant has an equal chance of selection, thereby minimizing the risk of bias.
Peer reviews act as another safeguard, providing an objective assessment of research or academic work by colleagues in the same field, which can help detect and mitigate any subjective bias. Standardized testing, if developed and applied properly, has the potential to assess students' abilities in a uniform manner, although it too must be scrutinized for inherent biases.
Finally, classroom observations can also be utilized, especially when multiple observers are involved to ensure inter-rater reliability, thus eliminating observer bias to an extent.
However, all these methods have limitations and should be evaluated critically to ensure effectiveness. Considering the options provided, randomization (a.) is the most direct method for ensuring that bias is minimized in studies.