The more information you have, the better your decision-making will be. In our highly politicized society, the tendency is increasingly to see the purpose of research to be collecting data points that support an a priori conclusion. Political expedience aside, the person with less information is always at a disadvantage. Whether research is done to support persuasion, to clarify a decision, or to expand understanding, reality and truth have to come first. If you’re going to spin the results, do so knowingly, as a separate decision.