Thresholds of Significance

Thresholds of significance are predetermined criteria used in research and data analysis to determine whether a result is considered meaningful or not. Think of it as a benchmark; if the data surpasses this point, researchers interpret it as evidence of a real effect or relationship, rather than just random chance. For example, in medical studies, a threshold may be set to identify if a new treatment truly makes a difference. Establishing these thresholds helps ensure that conclusions are based on statistically sound evidence, reducing the risk of false positives or misleading results.