How do you control for biases?
How do you control for biases?
-Choose a representative sample, preferably by a random method
-Choose an adequate size of sample
-Identify all confounding factors if possible
-Identify sources of bias and include them as additional predictors in statistical analyses
-Use randomization: by randomly recruiting or assigning subjects in a study, all our experimental groups have an equal chance of being influenced by the same bias
Notes:
- Randomization: in randomized control trials, research participants are assigned by chance, rather than by choice to either the experimental group or the control group.
- Random sampling: obtaining data that is representative of the population of interest