Which of the following is NOT a reason contributing to publication bias?

• A. Journals automatically reject all submissions with non-significant results.
• B. Non-significant findings are less likely to be published.
• C. Scientists don't submit non-significant results to journals.
• D. Scientists selectively report results to focus on significant findings.

Answer: (A)

Publication bias happens when studies or results that show significant effects are favored for publication, while non-significant findings are less likely to appear in the literature. The statement about journals automatically rejecting all submissions with non-significant results describes an extreme, blanket policy that isn’t how publication processes typically work. In practice, bias arises because non-significant findings are less likely to be published, researchers may not submit them, and researchers may selectively report only significant parts of their results. Those latter factors reflect real pressures and behaviors that drive bias, whereas a universal rejection policy is not a standard mechanism contributing to how publication bias operates.