Several factors can undermine the credibility of epidemiological studies:
1. Bias: This includes selection bias, information bias, and recall bias. Biases can distort the study’s findings. 2. Confounding: Confounding occurs when an extraneous variable influences both the independent and dependent variables, leading to misleading results. 3. Publication Bias: Studies with positive findings are more likely to be published than those with negative or null results, skewing the literature. 4. Conflict of Interest: Financial or personal interests can introduce bias, consciously or unconsciously, in the study design, data interpretation, and reporting.
