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What p-value must be used as the Statistical Significance Threshold? P<0.005, P<0.01, P<0.05 or no value at all?

Volume 6 - Issue 3

Bruno Mario Cesana*1,2

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    • 1Former: Department of Molecular and Transactional Medicine, Statistics and Biomathematics Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
    • 2Contract Professor: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Unit of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics “Giulio A. Maccacaro”, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    *Corresponding author: Bruno Mario Cesana, Department of Molecular and Transactional Medicine, Statistics and Biomathematics Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Received: June 20, 2018;   Published: July 06, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.06.001359

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Abstract

Statistical significance is a tool for making decisions on a probabilistic basis extensively used in the scientific world. It must be recognized that the 0.05 value as the threshold of the statistical significance is undoubtedly arbitrary and nothing prevents it from being modified according to well-founded arguments. Furthermore, it must also be recognized that the logic of the statistical significance test is quite debatable, as well as being little understood by researchers who are the main users. Also the meaning of p-values is often ignored with consequent misinterpretations and misunderstandings. I will give a general overview and some insights on the topics of the p-values and of the statistical significance.

Keywords: Statistical Significance; True Null Hypothesis; Bayes Factor; Prior and Posterior Probabilities; Prior and Posterior Odds; False Discovery Rate; Claims of New Discoveries; Irreconcilability; Null Hypothesis Significance Testing Procedure; Strength of Evidence

Abstract| Introduction| Conclusion| References|