Health Care

Bias

Any deviation of results or inferences from the truth, or processes leading to such deviation. Bias can result from several sources: one-sided or systematic variations in measurement from the true value (systematic error); flaws in study design; deviation of inferences, interpretations, or analyses based on flawed data or data collection; etc. There is no sense of prejudice or subjectivity implied in the assessment of bias under these conditions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Any deviation of results or inferences from the truth, or processes leading to such deviation. Bias can result from several sources: one-sided or systematic variations in measurement from the true value (systematic error); flaws in study design; deviation of inferences, interpretations, or analyses based on flawed data or data collection; etc. There is no sense of prejudice or subjectivity implied in the assessment of bias under these conditions.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

34 entry terms
  • Bias, Epidemiologic
  • Biases
  • Epidemiologic Biases
  • Biase, Epidemiologic
  • Biases, Epidemiologic
  • Epidemiologic Biase
  • Aggregation Bias
  • Bias, Aggregation
  • Bias, Ecological
  • Bias, Statistical
  • Bias, Systematic
  • Biases, Ecological
  • Biases, Statistical
  • Ecological Bias
  • Ecological Biases
  • Ecological Fallacies
  • Ecological Fallacy
  • Experimental Bias
  • Fallacies, Ecological
  • Fallacy, Ecological
  • Outcome Measurement Errors
  • Scientific Bias
  • Statistical Bias
  • Statistical Biases
  • Systematic Bias
  • Truncation Bias
  • Truncation Biases
  • Bias, Experimental
  • Bias, Scientific
  • Bias, Truncation
  • Biases, Truncation
  • Error, Outcome Measurement
  • Errors, Outcome Measurement
  • Outcome Measurement Error

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

IM general only; coordinate NIM with disease /epidemiol, not /etiol; add geographic term if pertinent; do not use for "bias" as prejudice or subjectivity (= PREJUDICE or specifics)

MeSH Record

History Note

2018(1990); use Research 1987-1989

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Epidemiologic Methods (1966-1989)
  • Research Design (1972-1989)
  • Risk (1966-1989)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. N05.715w.350.150w
  2. N06.850w.490.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Bias. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015982. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015982
  2. Bias. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bias
  3. Bias. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q742736