A survey of publication bias within evolutionary ecology.
Publication bias has been recognized as a problem in ecology and evolution that can undermine reviews of research results. Unfortunately, direct tests of publication bias are extremely rare. Here, we quantify a well-discussed but, to our knowledge, previously untested form of publication bias: the publication of results with and without estimates of effect size. We find that results published without effect sizes are a biased sample of those that are published. This further complicates the already difficult task of compiling quantitative literature reviews and meta-analytic studies.
Cassey
Phillip
P
School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. cassey@wotan.ens.fr
Ewen
John G
JG
Blackburn
Tim M
TM
Møller
Anders P
AP
D005075:Biological Evolution; D003625:Data Collection; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D017594:Publication Bias / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods