Question

Most scientists use the p<.05 criterion to determine if their findings are significant. Describe cases where you would prefer them to be more lenient (e.g., p<.10) or cases where you prefer them to be more cautious (e.g., p<.01).

Answer 1

The p < 0.05 criterion is explained as follows:

If the p - value is less than 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the means and conclude that a significant difference exist.

If the p - value is greater than 0.05, we fail to reject the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the means and conclude that a significant difference does not exist.

Here = the level of significance = 0.05 is the probability of rejecting a null hypothesis by the test when it is really true.

In hypothesis testing of non-critical cases where the the probability of rejecting a null hypothesis by the test when it is really true is not very crucial such as: Hypothesis Testing of Going to a movie or a picnic spot on the weekend with friends, we would prefer them to be more lenient (e.g., p<.10) .

In hypothesis testing of critical cases where the the probability of rejecting a null hypothesis by the test when it is really true is very crucial such as: Hypothesis Testing of whether a person is having cancer or not, we would prefer them to be more more cautious (e.g., p<.01).