Methods for Studying Bias in Graduate Medical Education

Consistent with patterns seen in the larger population, bias in medical settings has been well established and negatively impacts outcomes, quality of care, and patient-clinician interactions. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief and introductory review of research methods for studying bias in graduate medical education, including (a) specific designs to consider and (b) considerations for overcoming barriers to implementation. While there are a variety of ways in which bias and inequity can be studied in medical settings, the unique limitations of graduate medical education may pose numerous challenges that researchers may need to overcome. Limited research addresses bias and inequity in graduate medical settings; future research might explore these topics in ways that are tailored to this educational setting.