Glossary

What is Outcome bias

An evaluation error: a winning trade is judged good, a losing one bad. A correct trade by plan can lose, a rule break can win.

How it works

SOL 15m, 10.11.2025: an entry without an MSS — and the target was hit. A broken rule, a positive result.

Example

An entry at the sweep candle's close, 166.38, without an MSS, stop 166.11. The 168.92 target was hit — +9.4R. A rule break that closed in profit is luck, not a reason to change the rule.

Common mistake

Changing a rule after one stop or praising a rule break for its profit.

Read next

Frequently asked questions

Where can I learn Outcome bias step by step?
In the Trading OS Academy: “The result is not the excuse”.
What is Outcome bias related to?
Sample size; Pact; Trade review.

Plan versus outcome — for every trade

The Trading OS journal keeps the planned RR and the actual R of each trade side by side and computes expectancy from real results.

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