Psychology / Unit 1 Psych 0104 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Misreading Statistical Significance
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The idea
Misreading statistical significance means treating it as proof of importance, of causation, or of a large effect.
In practice
A headline calls a two-point difference in a 100,000-person sample a breakthrough, because the study reported significance.
Where people slip
With a large enough sample, a trivial difference becomes significant. Significance and importance are separate questions.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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