Reporting Bias

Only a fraction of the research that is done ends up being reported in the published literature. Reporting bias occurs when features of the results (such as statistical significance) influence how widely, or even whether, they are circulated.

Types of Reporting Biases:

Publication bias: publication vs non-publication based on the results

Time lag bias: rapid vs delayed publication based on the results

Language bias: publication in a particular language based on the results

Multiple publication bias: single vs multiple publications based on the results

Location bias: publication in a journal with a different ease of access based on the results

Citation bias: citation vs non-citation of findings based on the results

Outcome reporting bias: selective reporting of some outcomes based on the results

Results that are positive and statistically significant have been found to be more likely to:

Be published

Be published rapidly

Be published in English

Be published as part of more than one article

Be published in high-impact journals

Be cited by others

References:

Sterne JAC, Egger M, Moher D (editors). Chapter 10: Addressing reporting biases. In: Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention. Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org. [1]

Submitted by Jennifer Aucoin