Will P‐Value Triumph over Abuses and Attacks?

Abstract

The null hypothesis significance testing procedure (NHSTP) was devised to guide scientific researchers decide whether an observed difference between comparative groups is due to chance or if there is a significant effect. However, prolific use of NHSTP by non‐statisticians in many quantitative studies has resulted in widespread misinterpretations, misuses and abuses. We briefly recall a recent ban on p value − and summarize the official statement written by the American Statistical Association (ASA), which explains what p‐value is, what it is not, and how to interpret and use it correctly