7 tips to avoid biases in biomedical data collection

Accuracy and integrity matter a lot in biomedical research, especially when you’re collecting and analyzing data. Biases in data can lead us astray and waste time and resources on flawed inferences.

Here are seven friendly tips to help you steer clear of those pitfalls and gather reliable data for your research. 

1. Define Clear Objectives: Start with a crystal-clear research question. Knowing what you want to find helps you stay focused and avoid wandering into unintentional biases. 

2. Diverse Sampling Matters: Biases can creep in when your sample isn't representative. Make sure your sample includes a variety of ages, genders, and backgrounds to avoid skewed outcomes. 

3. Random Sampling Rocks: Randomly selecting your participants or samples helps prevent cherry-picking and ensures your data is a fair reflection of reality. 

4. Standardize Data Collection: Use consistent methods, tools, and protocols. This keeps you from inadvertently swaying results with variations in data collection. 

5. Mind the Missing Data: Missing data can skew results. Handle it wisely by using imputation techniques to fill in gaps, but be transparent about your methods. 

6. Be Careful with Variable Transformation: When you transform variables, do it with caution. Make sure it's scientifically justified and be transparent about why and how you're doing it. 

7. Analyze Data Rigorously: Apply robust hypothesis testing methods to draw reliable conclusions. Be mindful of p-values and confidence intervals and interpret them correctly to avoid bias.  

Get expert advice on choosing and running the right statistical test for your data and research question. Check out Editage’s Statistical Analysis & Review Services.