Natural Language Processing Large Language Models Ethics & Safety Intermediate 2 min read

What is reporting bias?

A type of bias that occurs when the data collected is not representative of the whole population, often due to selective reporting or publication

reporting bias explained in plain English

Reporting bias happens when researchers or authors selectively publish or report the results that support their hypothesis or desired outcome, while ignoring or hiding the results that contradict it, leading to an incomplete or misleading picture of the truth

Analogy

Reporting bias is like a news editor who only publishes stories that support their political views, while ignoring or suppressing stories that contradict them, giving readers a skewed view of reality

Example

A pharmaceutical company may only publish the results of clinical trials that show the effectiveness of their new drug, while hiding the results of trials that show adverse effects or lack of efficacy

How is reporting bias used?

Reporting bias can be used to manipulate public opinion, influence policy decisions, or distort scientific research, often to serve the interests of individuals, organizations, or industries

Common misconceptions about reporting bias

Some people may think that reporting bias only occurs in scientific research, but it can also occur in journalism, social media, and other areas where information is selectively presented to influence public opinion

History

The concept of reporting bias has been recognized for decades, but it has become increasingly important in recent years with the proliferation of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, which can amplify biased reporting and make it more difficult to distinguish fact from fiction

Also known as

publication bias selective reporting information bias