Table 10.1.a: Definitions of some types of reporting biases
Type of reporting bias |
Definition |
Publication bias |
The publication or non-publication of research findings, depending on the nature and direction of the results |
Time lag bias |
The rapid or delayed publication of research findings, depending on the nature and direction of the results |
Multiple (duplicate) publication bias |
The multiple or singular publication of research findings, depending on the nature and direction of the results |
Location bias |
The publication of research findings in journals with different ease of access or levels of indexing in standard databases, depending on the nature and direction of results. |
Citation bias |
The citation or non-citation of research findings, depending on the nature and direction of the results |
Language bias |
The publication of research findings in a particular language, depending on the nature and direction of the results |
Outcome reporting bias |
The selective reporting of some outcomes but not others, depending on the nature and direction of the results |