In this episode we feature a super expert on all things related to selection bias, Dr. Chanelle Howe. There are a lot of confusing issues related to selection bias: how it’s defined, how it relates to collider stratification bias, whether it’s a threat to internal or external validity (or both!). Chanelle helps us understand many of the nuances related to selection bias and provides helpful resources for readers interested in learning more about the topic. Is a lack of exchangeability related to confounding bias or selection? How can DAGs help us decipher the difference between confounding bias and selection? Can you have selection bias in a prospective cohort study? Join us to find out the answers to all of these questions and much more!

Resources:

Hernán MA. Invited Commentary: Selection Bias Without Colliders. Am J Epidemiol. 2017 Jun 1;185(11):1048-1050. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwx077. PMID: 28535177; PMCID: PMC6664806.

Lu H, Cole SR, Howe CJ, Westreich D. Toward a Clearer Definition of Selection Bias When Estimating Causal Effects. Epidemiology. 2022 Sep 1;33(5):699-706. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001516. Epub 2022 Jun 6. PMID: 35700187; PMCID: PMC9378569.

Howe CJ, Cole SR, Chmiel JS, Muñoz A. Limitation of inverse probability-of-censoring weights in estimating survival in the presence of strong selection bias. Am J Epidemiol. 2011 Mar 1;173(5):569-77. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwq385. Epub 2011 Feb 2. PMID: 21289029; PMCID: PMC3105434.