statistical significance
Statistical significance is a measure that helps researchers determine whether their results are likely due to chance or if they reflect a true effect. It is often represented by a p-value, which indicates the probability of observing the results if there were no actual effect. A common threshold for statistical significance is a p-value of less than 0.05, meaning there is less than a 5% chance that the observed results happened randomly.
When researchers find statistically significant results, they can be more confident in their conclusions. However, it is important to remember that statistical significance does not imply practical significance; a result can be statistically significant but not meaningful in real-world applications. Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting findings in fields like psychology, medicine, and social sciences.