Tilastokesuus

Tilastokesuus, also known as statistical significance, is a concept in statistics that determines whether an observed effect or relationship is likely to have occurred by chance. It is a fundamental aspect of hypothesis testing and is used to decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis typically states that there is no effect or no difference, and the alternative hypothesis suggests that there is an effect or difference.

Statistical significance is assessed using p-values, which represent the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true. A small p-value (commonly less than 0.05) indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, suggesting that the observed effect is unlikely to have occurred by chance. Conversely, a large p-value suggests that the observed effect could reasonably have occurred by chance.

It is important to note that statistical significance does not imply practical or clinical significance. An effect can be statistically significant but may not be meaningful or relevant in practical terms. Additionally, statistical significance is influenced by sample size; larger samples increase the likelihood of detecting small effects as statistically significant.

Tilastokesuus is widely used in various fields, including medicine, psychology, and social sciences, to evaluate the validity of research findings and make informed decisions based on data. However, it should be interpreted with caution and in conjunction with other evidence and considerations.