ecologic fallacy

e·co·log·i·c fal·la·cy

(ē'kō-loj'ik fal'ă-sē),
The bias that may occur because an association observed between variables at an aggregate level does not necessarily represent an association that exists at an individual level; an error of inference due to failure to distinguish between different levels of organization.
References in periodicals archive ?
For example, the potential confounding due to the latency period and ecologic fallacy must be considered in interpretation.
Statistical methods for linking health, exposure, and hazards
It is well known that such studies are very susceptible to the ecologic fallacy. Therefore, better individual-level studies with careful exposure assessment (22) and new, innovative designs, such as the case-crossover design (23), clearly have been needed.
Environmental Epidemiology: Challenges and Opportunities
The ecologic fallacy. Am J Epidemiol 127:893-904 (1988).
Long-Term Health Effects of Particulate and Other Ambient Air Pollution: Research Can Progress Faster If We Want It To
Medical browser ?
Full browser ?