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phdguide

p-value

Statistics & analysis

Definition

The probability of obtaining results at least as extreme as observed if the null hypothesis were true; below a threshold (often 0.05) it is deemed statistically significant.

A p-value is not the probability that your hypothesis is true, nor that the result happened by chance — it is a statement about how surprising your data would be in a world where no effect exists.

Modern reporting standards pair every p-value with an effect size and, where possible, a confidence interval, because significance without magnitude says little.

Where it's used

  • Hypothesis testing across t-tests, ANOVA, regression and SEM
  • Deciding which model paths are supported

Software used

SPSSRPythonSmartPLSAMOS

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