Stat-403/Stat-650 : Intermediate Sampling and Experimental Design ...

Statistical Signigicance TestingThe Insignificance of StatisticalSignificance TestingIntroductionStatistical testing of hypotheses in the wildlife field has increased dramatically in recent years. Evenmore recent is an emphasis on power analysis associated with hypothesis testing (The Wildlife Society1995). While this trend was occurring, statistical hypothesis testing was being deemphasized in someother disciplines. As an example, the American Psychological Association seriously debated a ban onpresenting results of such tests in the Association's scientific journals. That proposal was rejected, notbecause it lacked merit, but due to its appearance of censorship (Meehl 1997).The issue was highlighted at the 1998 annual conference of The Wildlife Society, in Buffalo, New York,where the Biometrics Working Group sponsored a half-day symposium on Evaluating the Role ofHypothesis Testing–Power Analysis in Wildlife Science. Speakers at that session who addressedstatistical hypothesis testing were virtually unanimous in their opinion that the tool was overused,misused, and often inappropriate.My objectives are to briefly describe statistical hypothesis testing, discuss common but incorrectinterpretations of resulting P-values, mention some shortcomings of hypothesis testing, indicate whyhypothesis testing is conducted, and outline some alternatives.Return to ContentsNext Section -- What is Statistical Hypothesis Testing?Northern Prairie Wildlife Research CenterHome | Site Map | Biological Resources | Help & Feedback64http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/statsig/intro.htm [12/6/2002 3:10:56 PM]