A novel framework for classification of selection processes in epidemiological research
(2020) In BMC Medical Research Methodology 20(1).- Abstract
Background: Selection and selection bias are terms that lack consistent definitions and have varying meaning and usage across disciplines. There is also confusion in current definitions between underlying mechanisms that lead to selection and their consequences. Consequences of selection on study validity must be judged on a case-by-case basis depending on research question, study design and analytical decisions. The overall aim of the study was to develop a simple but general framework for classifying various types of selection processes of relevance for epidemiological research. Methods: Several original articles from the epidemiological literature and from related areas of observational research were reviewed in search of examples of... (More)
Background: Selection and selection bias are terms that lack consistent definitions and have varying meaning and usage across disciplines. There is also confusion in current definitions between underlying mechanisms that lead to selection and their consequences. Consequences of selection on study validity must be judged on a case-by-case basis depending on research question, study design and analytical decisions. The overall aim of the study was to develop a simple but general framework for classifying various types of selection processes of relevance for epidemiological research. Methods: Several original articles from the epidemiological literature and from related areas of observational research were reviewed in search of examples of selection processes, used terminology and description of the underlying mechanisms. Results: We classified the identified selection processes in three dimensions: i) selection level (selection at the population level vs. study-specific selection), ii) type of mechanism (selection in exposure vs. selection in population composition), iii) timing of the selection (at exposure entry, during exposure/follow-up or post-outcome). Conclusions: Increased understanding of when, how, and why selection occur is an important step towards improved validity of epidemiological research.
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- author
- Björk, Jonas LU ; Nilsson, Anton LU ; Bonander, Carl and Strömberg, Ulf LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Bias, Epidemiologic factors, Population characteristics, Public health, Selection bias
- in
- BMC Medical Research Methodology
- volume
- 20
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 155
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85086621661
- pmid:32536343
- ISSN
- 1471-2288
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12874-020-01015-w
- project
- Nya statistiska ansatser för att bedöma betydelsen av selektion och variation i befolkningsbaserade kohort- och screeningundersökningar
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 42eae197-3f19-4fb9-8f19-d66594ba8530
- date added to LUP
- 2020-07-02 13:24:24
- date last changed
- 2024-05-15 14:16:46
@article{42eae197-3f19-4fb9-8f19-d66594ba8530,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Selection and selection bias are terms that lack consistent definitions and have varying meaning and usage across disciplines. There is also confusion in current definitions between underlying mechanisms that lead to selection and their consequences. Consequences of selection on study validity must be judged on a case-by-case basis depending on research question, study design and analytical decisions. The overall aim of the study was to develop a simple but general framework for classifying various types of selection processes of relevance for epidemiological research. Methods: Several original articles from the epidemiological literature and from related areas of observational research were reviewed in search of examples of selection processes, used terminology and description of the underlying mechanisms. Results: We classified the identified selection processes in three dimensions: i) selection level (selection at the population level vs. study-specific selection), ii) type of mechanism (selection in exposure vs. selection in population composition), iii) timing of the selection (at exposure entry, during exposure/follow-up or post-outcome). Conclusions: Increased understanding of when, how, and why selection occur is an important step towards improved validity of epidemiological research.</p>}},
author = {{Björk, Jonas and Nilsson, Anton and Bonander, Carl and Strömberg, Ulf}},
issn = {{1471-2288}},
keywords = {{Bias; Epidemiologic factors; Population characteristics; Public health; Selection bias}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Medical Research Methodology}},
title = {{A novel framework for classification of selection processes in epidemiological research}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01015-w}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12874-020-01015-w}},
volume = {{20}},
year = {{2020}},
}