Publication biasとは 意味・読み方・使い方

Publication bias is 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 bias in the overall published literature. Such bias occurs despite the fact that studies with significant results do not appear to be superior to studies with a null result with respect to quality of design. It has been found that statistically significant results are three times more likely to be published than papers affirming a null result. It also has been found that the most common reason for non publication is the failure of an investigator to submit (on account of loss of interest, null results etc.), underlining researches' role in publication bias phenomena.