What does statistical significance indicate?

Statistical significance primarily indicates the likelihood that the observed results in a study occurred by chance. When researchers conduct a statistical test, they typically aim to determine whether their findings are robust enough to be considered meaningful. If the results are statistically significant, it suggests that the probability of observing such results under the null hypothesis (which posits that there is no effect or difference) is low, often set at a threshold such as p < 0.05. This low p-value implies that there is a strong reason to reject the null hypothesis, indicating that the results are likely reflecting a true effect rather than random variability.

While statistical significance is an important aspect of research, it does not necessarily speak to the importance or practical implications of the findings, the strength of the relationship between variables, or the reliability of the methods used in the study.