Publication bias and selective reporting

Publication bias and selective reporting are related concepts that can lead to distorted research findings and affect the validity and reliability of research studies.

Publication bias refers to the tendency of journals to publish studies with significant or positive results, while rejecting or not publishing studies with non-significant or negative results. This can lead to an overestimation of the effectiveness of certain interventions or treatments, as well as a bias towards certain research areas or topics. Publication bias can also occur when researchers fail to submit negative or non-significant results for publication, often due to concerns about the perceived importance or relevance of the findings.

Selective reporting refers to the practice of selectively reporting certain outcomes or measures while omitting others, often to emphasize the positive or significant results and downplay the negative or non-significant ones. This can be done intentionally or unintentionally, and can lead to a distorted view of the effectiveness or safety of a treatment or intervention.

Both publication bias and selective reporting can have serious implications for evidence-based medicine, as they can lead to incorrect or incomplete conclusions about the effectiveness or safety of interventions. To address these biases, researchers can use methods such as registering clinical trials, publishing study protocols, and adhering to reporting guidelines that require full and transparent reporting of all outcomes and measures. Journal editors can also play a role by encouraging the publication of negative or non-significant results, and by promoting transparency and open access to research findings.

References:

1. What Is Publication Bias? | Definition & Examples (scribbr.com) 

2. Selective Reporting, Publication Bias and Clinical Trial Registry: An Industry Perspective | Request PDF (researchgate.net) 

3. Introduction to research integrity and selective reporting bias - Editor Resources (taylorandfrancis.com) 

4. Evidence for the Selective Reporting of Analyses and Discrepancies in Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies of Clinical Trials | PLOS Medicine 

5. Assessment of publication bias and outcome reporting bias in systematic reviews of health services and delivery research: A meta-epidemiological study - PubMed (nih.gov)