BIAS CASCADE:
A general term that is also sometimes called the Bias Cascade Effect. When irrelevant, or biased information is passed on from one stage to another, or from one group to another, in a critical appraisal process1,2. Such that, biased interpretations at early stages leads to biased decision making at later stages, or biased interpretations from one group are passed onto another group, which leads to biased interpretations in that group.
In the context of medical science, Bias Cascade could be a substantial problem in studies of knowledge synthesis (e.g. systematic reviews); if biases in the methods of studies that make up the review, lead to biased results in these studies, and these studies are combined and summarized. In this case, biased conclusions may be drawn in the review study. In the context of medical care, a nurse’s or physician’s biased interpretation of the progress of a patient in a clinic, may lead to biased perceptions and judgments of that patient, in other care providers; which may affect that patient’s care2. Also see: Bias Snowball, Implicit Bias, Conceptual Bias, and Bias (Definition).
References:
1. Dror IE, Morgan RM. Rando, C., & Nakhaeizadeh, S.(2017). The Bias Snowball and the Bias Cascade Effects: Two Distinct Biases that May Impact Forensic Decision Making. J Forensic Sci. 2017;62(3):832-3. (Link to Reference)
2. Martin K, Ricciardelli R, Dror I. How forensic mental health nurses’ perspectives of their patients can bias healthcare: A qualitative review of nursing documentation. J Clin Nurs. 2020;29(13-14):2482-2494. (Link to Reference)