Alternatives to Statistical Significance Testing.

N

20

Effect Size; Estimation (Mathematics); Evaluation Methods; Research Design; Research Problems; Sample Size; Statistical Significance

Researchers increasingly recognize that significance tests are limited in their ability to inform scientific practice. Common errors in interpreting significance tests and three strategies for augmenting the interpretation of significance test results are illustrated. The first strategy for augmenting the interpretation of significance tests involves evaluating significance test results in a sample size context. A second strategy involves interpretation of effect size estimates; several estimates and corrections are discussed. A third strategy emphasizes interpretation based on estimated likelihood that results will replicate. The bootstrap method of B. Efron and others and cross-validation strategies are illustrated. A 28-item list of references and four data tables are included. (Author/SLD)

1991

ED325524