Premium
Publication bias and merit in ecology
Author(s) -
Lortie C. J.,
Aarssen L. W.,
Budden A. E.,
Koricheva J. K.,
Leimu R.,
Tregenza T.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
oikos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.672
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1600-0706
pISSN - 0030-1299
DOI - 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2007.15686.x
Subject(s) - imperfect , process (computing) , set (abstract data type) , measure (data warehouse) , ecology , computer science , product (mathematics) , econometrics , positive economics , data science , epistemology , biology , economics , mathematics , data mining , philosophy , linguistics , geometry , programming language , operating system
Bias, or any set of factors that influence the general expression of merit, is common in science and is an inevitable by‐product of an imperfect but otherwise reasonably objective human pursuit to understand the world we inhabit. In this paper, we explore the conceptual significance of a relatively tractable form of bias, namely publication and dissemination bias. A specific definition is developed, a working model of classification for publication bias is proposed, and an assessment of what we can measure is described. Finally, we offer expectations for ecologists with respect to the significance of bias in the publication process within our discipline. We argue that without explicit consideration of both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of publication bias in ecology, we limit our capacity to fairly assess and best use the science that we as a community produce.