Misunderstanding publication bias: editors are not blameless after all.

ABSTRACT: In analysing whether there is an editorial bias in favour of positive studies, researchers have made implicit assumptions that are implausible. In particular, to justify the conclusion that there is no bias because observed editorial acceptance rates do not favour positive studies, the assumption that the decision to submit an article is based solely on quality would be required. If, on the other hand, submission were based on perceived probability of acceptance, negative and positive studies would not differ in terms of acceptance rates, but in terms of quality. It is shown, using a simple graphical model, how similar underlying situations as regards the relationship between quality and probability of acceptance on the one hand and study outcome (positive or negative) and probability of a

SUBMITTER: Senn S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3782365 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature