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Publication bias

A distortion caused when studies with positive or striking results are more likely to become visible.

Published 04 August 2026Updated 04 August 2026

Publication bias can make an effect look stronger or more consistent because null, negative, or inconclusive findings remain unpublished. Preregistration, study registries, replication, and searches for unpublished work help reveal the missing evidence.

Sources

Why Most Published Research Findings Are False

PLOS Medicine / 2005 / Paper

Metascience argument about false-positive risk and research ecosystem incentives.

Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science

Science / 2015 / Paper

Large collaborative replication project in psychological science.