Table 2 When dissemination bias may arise in the process of writing up and disseminating the findings of qualitative studies
Stage of the dissemination process | How dissemination bias may arise |
|---|---|
Funder/commercial/policy interests | Studies or study findings not disseminated because of funder interests, commercial interests or other interests related to a policy process |
Decision to write/submit for publication | • Study findings contrary to popular opinion or practice more/less likely to be written up or disseminated • Most novel or striking study findings selected for publication • Findings of unfunded studies less likely to be submitted for publication |
Decisions on which themes/findings to include or emphasise in study reports | Study authors favour particular interpretations |
Choice of dissemination strategy | • Study authors choose avenue/s to disseminate the study findings (e.g., to which journal to submit the paper) that result in findings being less available • Studies in some languages more likely to be published in non-indexed journals and therefore their findings are less available |
Editorial policies of journals and other dissemination forums | • Journal editors/peer reviewers favour studies reporting findings focusing on particular issues • Word limits make full publication of findings less likely |
Inclusion in databases | • Particular study findings more/less like to be found if the studies reporting these, or the journals typically publishing these, are more/less likely to be included in databases and therefore to be retrieved |