Nursing Research
Statistical Significance (p-value)
The p-value is a mathematical tool used to determine if research results are likely due to chance.
Interpreting p-values
- P < 0.05: Usually indicates statistical significance; result is unlikely to have occurred by chance.
- P > 0.05: Results are not statistically significant; fail to reject the null hypothesis.
- Lower p-values suggest stronger evidence against the null hypothesis.
Important Caution
- Statistical significance does not equal clinical significance.
- A large sample size can result in a significant p-value even for trivial changes in patient outcomes.
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