An explanation of the misuse of statistical significance testing and the true meaning of "significance" is offered. Literature about the criticism of current practices of researchers and publications is reviewed in the context of tests of significance. The problem under consideration occurs when researchers attempt to do more than just establish that a relationship has been observed. More often than not, too many researchers assume that the difference, and even the size of the difference, proves or at least confirms the research hypothesis. Statistical significance is not a measure of "substantive' significance or what might be called scientific importance. Significance testing was designed to yield yes/no decisions. It is suggested that authors or research projects should not try to interpret the magnitudes of their significance findings. Significance testing must be returned to its proper place in the scientific process. (SLD)
ملاحظات :
Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association (Louisville, KY, November 9-11, 1988).
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