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

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

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

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

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

• File drawer problem
• Outcome reporting bias
• Replication crisis

References

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