Self-selection bias

 

Self-selection bias (a.k.a. selection threat, self-selection effect) is a problem where the participants of an evaluation or research project join because they choose to themselves (rather than randomly being selected by the evaluator). For example, a web-based survey put out on Twitter about people’s opinions on pet cats will likely attract people who are already interested in cats. As a result, the sample may be biased and not representative of the whole population. Instead, the sample represents cat-lovers.

See also: sampling, bias

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SNick Yarmey