Editing Epidemiology (section)

==== Selection bias ====
[[Selection bias]] occurs when study subjects are selected or become part of the study as a result of a third, unmeasured variable which is associated with both the exposure and outcome of interest.<ref name="Hernán2004"/> For instance, it has repeatedly been noted that cigarette smokers and non smokers tend to differ in their study participation rates. (Sackett D cites the example of Seltzer et al., in which 85% of non smokers and 67% of smokers returned mailed questionnaires.)<ref name="Sackett D. Bias in analytic research. J Chron Dis 1979; vol. 32:51–63.">[http://www.epidemiology.ch/history/PDF%20bg/Sackett%20DL%201979%20bias%20in%20analytic%20research.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829193522/http://epidemiology.ch/history/PDF%20bg/Sackett%20DL%201979%20bias%20in%20analytic%20research.pdf|date=29 August 2017}} 24</ref> Such a difference in response will not lead to bias if it is not also associated with a systematic difference in outcome between the two response groups.