FUTON bias
Encyclopedia
FUTON bias refers to the bias
in academic research
, when researchers "concentrate on research published in journals that are available as full text on the internet
, and ignore relevant studies that are not available in full text, thus introducing an element of bias into their search result". As a result, articles that are available as full text on the Internet
have more visibility and impact, as they are more likely to be accessed, read, quoted, and incorporated into new research. The FUTON bias may have a similar effect as publication bias
or language bias.
The FUTON bias may affect the impact factor of academic journal(s).
FUTON bias may be a result of several factors:
No abstract available bias (NAA bias) is similar to FUTON bias: it occurs when an article has no abstract
available online. Such articles, as well as those with unclear titles are also less likely to be accessed. Some publishers acknowledge the NAA bias by providing abstracts for editorial and letters in their journal(s) or promising to do so.
Conversely, Gilman notes that articles in expensive journals are "priced out of evidence", such that FUTON publications have higher availability and hence higher utility.
Bias
Bias is an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of alternatives. Bias can come in many forms.-In judgement and decision making:...
in academic research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, when researchers "concentrate on research published in journals that are available as full text on the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, and ignore relevant studies that are not available in full text, thus introducing an element of bias into their search result". As a result, articles that are available as full text on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
have more visibility and impact, as they are more likely to be accessed, read, quoted, and incorporated into new research. The FUTON bias may have a similar effect as publication bias
Publication bias
Publication bias is the tendency of researchers, editors, and pharmaceutical companies to handle the reporting of experimental results that are positive differently from results that are negative or inconclusive, leading to bias in the overall published literature...
or language bias.
The FUTON bias may affect the impact factor of academic journal(s).
FUTON bias may be a result of several factors:
- It may affect researchers and students with limited experience in doing research, especially those who believe everything is available fulltext on the internet.
- Few libraries in general have a full range of journals available, and if the article is available, it may be only in print or microformMicroformMicroforms are any forms, either films or paper, containing microreproductions of documents for transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microform images are commonly reduced to about one twenty-fifth of the original document size...
. - FUTON bias tends to result in older sources getting less visibility, as they are less likely to have been digitized. Similarly, sources published in less developed countries are similarly adversely affected, as those countries tend to have less resources that can be spared for digitalization (see digital divideDigital divideThe Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...
).
No abstract available bias (NAA bias) is similar to FUTON bias: it occurs when an article has no abstract
Abstract (summary)
An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject or discipline, and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. When used, an abstract always appears at the beginning of a...
available online. Such articles, as well as those with unclear titles are also less likely to be accessed. Some publishers acknowledge the NAA bias by providing abstracts for editorial and letters in their journal(s) or promising to do so.
Conversely, Gilman notes that articles in expensive journals are "priced out of evidence", such that FUTON publications have higher availability and hence higher utility.
See also
- Availability bias
- Not Invented HereNot Invented HereNot invented here is a term used to describe persistent social, corporate, or institutional culture that avoids using or buying already existing products, research, standards, or knowledge because of their external origins. It is normally used in a pejorative sense, and may be considered an...
- Open access
- Digital divideDigital divideThe Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...