Assess for Risk of Bias

This is the sixth part in a series of online courses about how to conduct a systematic review. If you haven’t completed the other steps yet, please visit our homepage to start from the beginning.

For more background on what a systematic review is and how it might help you answer an important question, check out our intro course.

If you are ready to assess your studies for risk of bias (rob), let’s get started!

Course Information

FREE

Why bias matters

Risk of bias and why it matters

What is risk of bias?

But these studies are peer reviewed

The big idea behind risk of bias

Risk of bias in RCTs

Measuring bias is tricky

Levels of risk of bias assessment

Your risk of bias approach might alter your conclusions

1st approach to risk of bias

2nd approach to risk of bias

Risk of bias is subjective

Assess for bias

How to assess for risk of bias

Risk of bias levels

Types of bias

Types of bias, continued

Risk of bias domains

Bias in group selection

Random sequence generation

Test your instincts: Random Sequence Generation

Make your assessment: Randomizing Participants

What happens if you see unusual random results?

Are uneven groups a sign of high risk of bias?

Allocation concealment

Test your instincts: allocation concealment

Make your assessment: Allocation Concealment

Bias in data collection

Risk of bias domains: data collection

Masking/Blinding

Masking for Performance Bias

Masking for Detection Bias

Sometimes blinding isn’t possible

How to assess for masking/blinding

Blinding confusion

Missing participant data

Does missing participant data matter?

Test your instincts: Missing Participant Data

Make your assessment: Missing Participant Data

Incomplete outcome reporting

Make your assessment: Outcome Reporting

Describing bias

Now what?

Where does risk of bias belong?

Descriptions and visualizations

Descriptions and Visualizations, continued

Other sources of bias

Risk of bias in your systematic review

Publication bias

Other challenges with outcomes

Next steps