significance level
The significance level, often denoted as alpha (α), is a threshold used in statistical testing to determine whether a result is meaningful or due to chance. Typically set at 0.05 (5%), it represents the probability of incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis, which states that there is no effect or difference. In simpler terms, if your result has a significance level of 0.05, it means there's only a 5% chance that the observed result happened by random chance. By using this level, researchers aim to ensure their findings are valid and can be trusted.
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The significance level, often denoted as alpha (α), is a threshold used in statistical hypothesis testing to determine whether an observed result is likely due to chance. Commonly set at 0.05, it means there's a 5% risk of concluding that a difference exists when there isn't one (a false positive). In simpler terms, if a study finds a result significant at this level, there's only a small chance (5 in 100) that the result happened by random chance. This helps researchers decide if their findings are meaningful and worth further consideration.