selection bias
Unrepresentative sample problem
Selection bias is a distortion in research results caused by how subjects were chosen for study.
When a sample isn't representative of the broader population, conclusions drawn from it may be misleading: The survey showed overwhelming support, but selection bias was obvious—they only polled people at the rally.
The term applies broadly to any systematic skewing of data through non-random selection.
Extracting subset for study
- nonrandomNot due to chance
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- confoundingCausing surprise or confusion
- skewTwist from straight
oversampling · attrition · nonresponse · stratification · weighting · randomization · generalizability · representativeness
Choosing only supporting examples
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- observer effectWatching something changes it
- blind spotArea of blocked perception
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
motivated reasoning · filtering · tunnel vision · preconception · assumption · subjective · perception · interpretation
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
unfairness · disparity · stereotype · profiling · gatekeeping · underrepresentation · marginalization · disproportionate
Group sharing circumstances
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- cross-sectionalCut through perpendicularly
- observationalBased on direct perception
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
clinical trial · meta-analysis · peer review · control group · randomized · blinding · replication · methodology
sampling
Extracting subset for study
- nonrandomNot due to chance
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- confoundingCausing surprise or confusion
skew · oversampling · attrition · nonresponse · stratification · weighting · randomization · generalizability · representativeness · sample size
cherry-picking
Choosing only supporting examples
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- observer effectWatching something changes it
- blind spotArea of blocked perception
rationalization · motivated reasoning · filtering · tunnel vision · preconception · assumption · subjective · perception · interpretation · framing effect
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
inequity · unfairness · disparity · stereotype · profiling · gatekeeping · underrepresentation · marginalization · disproportionate · demographic
cohort
Group sharing circumstances
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- cross-sectionalCut through perpendicularly
- observationalBased on direct perception
epidemiology · clinical trial · meta-analysis · peer review · control group · randomized · blinding · replication · methodology · participant
- biasprejudice, racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism
- biaseshalo effect, horn effect
- cherry-pickinghandpicking, stacking the deck
- cognitive biasesframing effect, halo effect, loss aversion, horn effect, Dunning-Kruger effect
- logical fallaciesfallacy, straw man, ad hominem, red herring, false dilemma
- media biasslant, partisan, partiality, one-sided, skew
selection biasrandom sampling
Selecting by pure chance
random selection · representativeness · representative sample · generalizability · census
bias, selection, selected, selective, selecting, selections, unselected, selector, nonselective