Chapter 14, Problem 1E

To determine

To define the words: statistical significance, statistically significant result and practical significance, or clinical significance.

Answer to Problem 1E

Solution:

The statistical significance means difference between the observed and calculated value which occurs due to chance.

The statistical significance results means to reject the null hypothesis.

The practical or clinical significance tells about the importance of the difference between the observed and calculated value which occurs due to chance.

Explanation of Solution

The word 'statistical significance' is of great importance in statistical analysis. It tells that the results obtained from analysis are meaningful or not. It is determined by the p-value which is the observed level of significance. By the p-value, one can decide whether to reject or do not reject the null hypothesis.

The term 'statistically significant result' tells to reject the null hypothesis as p-value is less than the decided level of significance, that is, the error rate you are willing to accept. If the result shows the statistical significance, it means that you have to reject the null hypothesis.

The clinical significance or practical significance is the ability for a research experiment to help a patient so much that they are return to normal functioning from dysfunctional state.

The term statistical significance tells that there is a difference between observed and calculated value which occurs due to chance but clinical significance tells about the importance of this difference.