The result helps assess compatibility with a null hypothesis, but it does not tell you how large, useful, durable, safe, or credible the effect is.
Evidence & Research Literacy glossary
Statistical significance: meaning, context, and what to check.
A statistical indication evaluated under a defined model; it does not automatically mean an effect is large, important, or useful.
IPA and plain-English pronunciationDirect answer and decision contextSources and review date
Definition in one sentence
What does Statistical significance mean?
A statistical indication evaluated under a defined model; it does not automatically mean an effect is large, important, or useful.
How to pronounce Statistical significance
stuh-TIS-tih-kuhl sig-NIF-ih-kuhns
IPA/stə.ˈtɪ.stɪ.kəl səɡ.ˈnɪ.fɪ.kəns/Sounds likestuh-TIS-tih-kuhl sig-NIF-ih-kuhns
Common American English pronunciation.
Statistical significance does not prove causation, eliminate bias, establish clinical importance, or guarantee replication.
- Find the prespecified primary outcome and analysis rather than selecting one favorable result.
- Review effect size and confidence interval alongside the p-value.
- Check sample size, missing data, multiple comparisons, and analysis changes.
- Ask whether the effect is meaningful, reproducible, and relevant to the claim.
Start with the useful meaning
Statistical significance in plain English
Statistical significance indicates that an observed result meets a prespecified statistical threshold under a particular model, often expressed with a p-value or confidence interval.
Where you may encounter this term
Clinical-trial results
Research abstracts
Meta-analyses
Marketing summaries of studies
Example
How does Statistical significance appear in a real decision?
Practical example
A large trial detects a very small difference that reaches the statistical threshold. The number may be statistically significant while being too small to matter in a person’s daily life.
Decision context
Why does Statistical significance matter?
The result helps assess compatibility with a null hypothesis, but it does not tell you how large, useful, durable, safe, or credible the effect is.
Label and use checklist
What should you check when you see Statistical significance?
- Find the prespecified primary outcome and analysis rather than selecting one favorable result.
- Review effect size and confidence interval alongside the p-value.
- Check sample size, missing data, multiple comparisons, and analysis changes.
- Ask whether the effect is meaningful, reproducible, and relevant to the claim.
Claim boundary
What does Statistical significance not prove?
Statistical significance does not prove causation, eliminate bias, establish clinical importance, or guarantee replication.
Avoid the shortcut
How should you compare Statistical significance carefully?
Comparison rule
Statistical significance addresses a statistical threshold. Clinical significance addresses practical importance, and confidence intervals show the range of effect sizes compatible with the data.
Clear the shortcuts
What are common misunderstandings about Statistical significance?
A p-value below 0.05 proves the hypothesis is true.
A nonsignificant result proves there is no effect.
Statistical significance tells you the size of a benefit.
PAA-style answers
Questions people also ask about Statistical significance
What is Statistical significance?
A statistical indication evaluated under a defined model; it does not automatically mean an effect is large, important, or useful.
How do you pronounce Statistical significance?
A common American English pronunciation is stuh-TIS-tih-kuhl sig-NIF-ih-kuhns. In the International Phonetic Alphabet, it is written /stə.ˈtɪ.stɪ.kəl səɡ.ˈnɪ.fɪ.kəns/.
What does Statistical significance mean?
A statistical indication evaluated under a defined model; it does not automatically mean an effect is large, important, or useful.
Why does Statistical significance matter?
The result helps assess compatibility with a null hypothesis, but it does not tell you how large, useful, durable, safe, or credible the effect is.
What should you check when you see Statistical significance?
Find the prespecified primary outcome and analysis rather than selecting one favorable result. Review effect size and confidence interval alongside the p-value.
What does Statistical significance not prove?
Statistical significance does not prove causation, eliminate bias, establish clinical importance, or guarantee replication.
Related guides and terms
Continue without losing the thread
Maintained reference
Sources, review, and corrections
This definition uses authoritative labeling, taxonomy, research-literacy, or cultivation sources and applies them conservatively to consumer decisions.