Terms associated with data analysis like significant have a different meaning than that used in casual conversation. In a research report, you should:
This first requires you to be confident in your understanding of the language of statistics. For example, significant is used by statisticians as shorthand for statistically significant and refers only to the likelihood of finding a particular result from an analysis, given the data, the sample and other conditions. It says nothing about whether the finding is important, or large or small, regardless of the level of statistical significance used (e.g., 95% or 99%). You might avoid some confusion by using the term statistically significant. Important refers to the managerial or strategic value of the information. It is defined by the client and reflected in the research question and the choice of action standards. In general, statements about importance should be made using only the client’s definition of important. |
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