Study Bias

Excerpt

Bias is colloquially defined as any tendency that limits impartial consideration of a question or issue. In academic research, bias refers to a type of systematic error that can distort measurements and/or affect investigations and their results. It is important to distinguish a systematic error, such as bias, from that of random error. Random error occurs due to the natural fluctuation in the accuracy of any measurement device, the innate differences between humans (both investigators and subjects), and by pure chance. Random errors can occur at any point and are more difficult to control. Systematic errors, referred to as bias from here on, occur at one or multiple points during the research process, including the study design, data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and publication process.