How can I identify bias in research studies?

How can I identify bias in research studies?

Identifying bias involves examining the study's design, sample selection, and data analysis methods. What specific type of bias are you concerned about?

I'm worried about selection bias. How can I spot it?

Selection bias occurs when the participants included in a study are not representative of the larger population. Look for details on how participants were chosen and if there are any exclusions that could affect the results.

What about publication bias?

Publication bias happens when studies with positive results are more likely to be published than those with negative or inconclusive results. You can check for this by looking at the number of studies on a topic and their outcomes.

Can you give me examples of how bias has affected research outcomes?

Sure! One example is the overrepresentation of certain demographics in clinical trials, which can lead to ineffective treatments for underrepresented groups.