What is statistical significance and can you give me an example?

What is statistical significance and can you give me an example?

Statistical significance is a measure that helps determine if the results of a study are likely due to chance. For example, if a new drug shows a 30% improvement in patient outcomes compared to a placebo, and this result has a p-value of less than 0.05, we can say the result is statistically significant.

How do researchers determine if a result is statistically significant?

Researchers typically use a p-value to assess statistical significance. A p-value less than 0.05 is commonly used as a threshold, indicating that there is less than a 5% probability that the observed results occurred by chance.

Can you explain what a p-value is?

A p-value is a statistical measure that helps scientists determine the strength of their results. It quantifies the probability of observing the data, or something more extreme, if the null hypothesis is true.

What is the null hypothesis?

The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, and it serves as a starting point for statistical testing. Researchers aim to gather evidence to reject the null hypothesis.