- bias
- bias bi‧as [ˈbaɪəs] noun biases PLURALFORM [countable, uncountable]MARKETING in market research, errors in results, usually caused by working with a group of people who are not typical of the group you want to know about, or by asking confusing questions:
• Sampling has its problems and bias must be guarded against at every step.
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bias UK US /ˈbaɪəs/ noun► [C, usually singular or U] the fact of allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment in an unfair way: »In her view, none of the interview panel had shown any bias.
gender/racial bias »a federal law prohibiting gender and racial bias in employment
bias against sb/sth »The email suggested a clear bias against American products.
bias in favour of sb/sth »The company showed a marked bias in favour of employing men.
»a clear/definite/strong bias
► [C, usually singular] the fact of preferring someone or something: bias towards sb/sth »In general, investment trusts have more of a bias towards emerging markets, including the Far East.
► [C or U] the fact that information is not correct because of the method used in collecting or presenting it: »In the market research there was a bias in the sample of people who were selected to give their opinions.
»There is a need to build in safeguards against statistical bias.
► [C or U] FINANCE the fact of prices, etc. increasing or decreasing: »Interest rates are set to have an upward bias in the next 12 months.
»a negative/downward bias
»a positive/upward bias
Financial and business terms. 2012.