Lec 11. Bias and Misclassification Flashcards
Researches evalutate 3 aspects of their study (internal validity) before declaring a real true association, what are they?
Check for Counfounders or effect modifiers, check for bias and check for statistical significance.
What is bias?
Systematic (NOT RANDOM) error in study design or conduct leading to erroneous results.
What does bias do to the relationship between exposure and outcome?
Distorts it
Can bias be fixed once it already occurred (after study ends)?
No
How can you minimize bias and its impact?
Prospective (pre-study) consideration and adjustment
What are three elements of bias?
Source/type, Magnitude/Strength and Direction
What is Magnitude/Strength pertaining to one of the elements of bias?
Can account entirely for a weak association (RR/OR) but not likely for a very strong one
What is Direction pertaining to one of the elements of bias?
Can over or under estimate true association. Towards or away from the ratio of 1.0
What are the two main categories of Bias?
Selection-related and Measurement-related
What is selection-related?
How we go and pick people, this will screw up soley by pts you pick.
What is a way to avoid selection-related bias?
Dont do anything that is different between groups
What is measurement related bias?
Anything we are measuring into observation, all data collection. Errors in here
What is a way to avoid measurement-related bias?
Dont do anything that is different between groups
What is selection bias?
The way study subjects are selected in different ways causing differences between groups
What are examples of selection bias?
Healthy-worker bias, self-selection/participant(responder) bias