Maturation Bias

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Maturation bias refers to systematic error created by the lack of a control group.

Maturation bias is likely to overestimate treatment effects.

Example

• Single‐group study design concludes that a 4‐week PT intervention is effective based on significant improvements in shoulder disability after treatment compared to before treatment.
• This is an example of maturation bias, and the researchers do not know how much of the healing is from the intervention or normal healing.
• This is likely to overestimate treatment effects due to the absence of a control group. That might have healed fully or partially on their own without treatment

Prevention

Maturation effects can be ruled out using a control group.