A p-value is a statistical measure that helps determine the significance of results in hypothesis testing. It quantifies the probability of observing the data, or something more extreme, assuming that the null hypothesis is true. A low p-value (typically less than 0.05) suggests that the observed data is unlikely under the null hypothesis, leading researchers to consider rejecting it. In scientific research, p-values are commonly used to assess the strength of evidence against the null hypothesis. They are part of the broader framework of statistics and are often discussed alongside concepts like confidence intervals and effect sizes.