bias the results

Meaning

To influence the outcome of a study, survey, experiment, or decision in an unfair or systematic way, leading to inaccurate conclusions. This expression is common in scientific, analytical, and professional settings when discussing objectivity and fairness. It suggests that external factors have distorted the truth.

Examples

• Leading questions in a customer survey can easily bias the results in favor of the company.

  Leading questions in a customer survey can easily bias the results in favor of the company.

• We must ensure the sample size is diverse, or we risk introducing factors that will bias the results.

  We must ensure the sample size is diverse, or we risk introducing factors that will bias the results.

• Excluding low-income participants from the study would heavily bias the results.

  Excluding low-income participants from the study would heavily bias the results.

• The researcher's personal opinions should not be allowed to bias the results of the clinical trial.

  The researcher's personal opinions should not be allowed to bias the results of the clinical trial.

• Using outdated data for your market analysis will inevitably bias the results.

  Using outdated data for your market analysis will inevitably bias the results.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We don't want to make a bias on the results.

  ✓ We don't want to bias the results.

  'Bias' is highly effective as a verb. Using 'make a bias on' is wordy and unnatural in formal or professional contexts.

• ✗ The bad methodology will biased the results.

  ✓ The bad methodology will bias the results.

  After auxiliary verbs like 'will', use the base form of the verb ('bias'), not the past participle ('biased').

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we only interview people who already love our brand, we will ___.

  💡 To influence the findings of our research in an unfair or one-sided way.

  Show answer

  bias the results

• The scientists designed a double-blind study so that personal expectations wouldn't ___.

  💡 To systematically distort or affect the outcome of the experiment.

  Show answer

  bias the results