Investigator bias and false positive findings in medical research

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

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Investigator bias and false positive findings in medical research [Letters]
Edzard Ernst and Peter H. Canter
Bias is ubiquitous, and medical research is no exception. Indeed, a recently published list included 45 different types of bias in medical research [1]. However, investigator bias, which we define...
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2003, 24:5:219-221

Abstract

There is no abstract for this article. The text below is the first paragraph of text within the article.

Bias is ubiquitous, and medical research is no exception. Indeed, a recently published list included 45 different types of bias in medical research [1]. However, investigator bias, which we define as bias resulting from a conflict of interest arising from passionate beliefs held by the investigators, was not among them. Although rarely discussed, such a conflict requires declaration [2]. Here, we will outline how investigator bias can influence all stages of a research project.