Question

Reducing sample bias may result in a less positive outcome overall, which may delay or stop the release of a drug that a subset of the population might benefit from. Is this an acceptable tradeoff?

Short answer

Yes, it is an acceptable tradeoff.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

When sample bias is reduced, it leads to a less positive result, which can further incur a delay in drug release.

The drug may be beneficial for a part of the population.

Describe sample bias

Sample bias is the biasedness involved in data collection. A biased sample directly affects the result of the data and thus the conclusion of the study.

The types of sample biasness are listed below:

• The set of samples favor a specific result of the study
• The samples are unresponsive to the questions of the study.
• The questions or mode of the survey is biased.
• The samples are self-volunteered.

Evaluate the impact of reducing the sample bias

If the sample bias is reduced significantly, it will make the results or outputs of the study reliable and accurate.

Resultant of this, if it leads to a delay in the release of a drug, it is an acceptable tradeoff. Moreover, the drugs benefit a portion of the population and are not general. Itis assumed to be specific to a condition that may not affect the population (unlike pandemic or epidemic).

Also, by reducing the sample bias, risk evaluation and the measurement of efficiency of the drug improve.

Overall, the tradeoff is acceptable.