The American Statistical Association (ASA) Statement of 2016 on Statistical Significance and P-value: A Critical Thought

Abstract

A study on American Statistical Association (ASA) policy statement on statistical significance testing and p-value of 2016 was carried out in Tanzania. The purpose of the study was to explore the feelings and reactions of university statistics tutors towards the American Statistical Association policy statement on statistical significance testing and p-value of 2016. A sample of 9 statistics tutors from different disciplines were selected from public and private universities via heterogeneous purposive sampling to participate in the study. Respondents had mixed feelings towards ASA policy statement of 2016. The ASA policy statement was criticized for being shallow in depth, subjective and failing to answer the core problems raised against the use of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST) and p-value. The ASA policy statement was dismissed as a non event with nothing new to offer. However, despite being shallow, the ASA policy on NHST and p-value is likely to trigger a health debate on the shortfalls of NHST and p-value and the debate will eventually lead to a breakthrough.