Publication bias
Publication bias is a type of bias that occurs in published academic research. It occurs when the outcome of an experiment or research study influences the decision whether to publish or otherwise distribute it. Publication bias matters because literature reviews regarding support for a hypothesis can be biased if the original literature is contaminated by publication bias.
Definition[edit | edit source]
Publication bias can be defined as a "systematic underestimation or overestimation of the underlying beneficial or harmful effect due to the selective publication of studies." Bias can occur during the submission of research for publication, where studies that show positive results or significant results are more likely to be published.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Publication bias can be caused by several factors. These include the tendency of researchers, editors, and pharmaceutical companies to handle the reporting of experimental results that are positive (i.e., showing a significant finding) differently from results that are negative (i.e., supporting the null hypothesis) or inconclusive, leading to a biased distribution of published research. The bias can occur at any stage of the process, including study design, data collection, analysis and publication.
Effects[edit | edit source]
The effects of publication bias can result in a skewed public perception of the effectiveness of certain treatments or interventions, which can have significant public health implications. It can also lead to a waste of resources and efforts in research and development.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
Several methods have been proposed to prevent publication bias. These include the establishment of clinical trial registries, in which a brief summary of the trial and its results are made publicly available. Another method is the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which can detect the presence of publication bias.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Publication bias Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
