What does p < 0.05 indicate?

What does p < 0.05 indicate?

• A. The results are not statistically significant
• B. The results are statistically significant
• C. The null is true
• D. The data are biased

Answer: (B)

p-values tell us how compatible the observed data are with the null hypothesis. When p is less than 0.05, that compatibility is unlikely enough (less than a 5% chance) that we consider the result statistically significant at the 5% level and we reject the null. This signals evidence against the null hypothesis under this threshold, but it doesn’t prove the alternative hypothesis is true, nor does it imply any bias in the data or reflect practical importance. If the p-value were 0.05 or higher, we would fail to reject the null at this level.

p-values tell us how compatible the observed data are with the null hypothesis. When p is less than 0.05, that compatibility is unlikely enough (less than a 5% chance) that we consider the result statistically significant at the 5% level and we reject the null. This signals evidence against the null hypothesis under this threshold, but it doesn’t prove the alternative hypothesis is true, nor does it imply any bias in the data or reflect practical importance. If the p-value were 0.05 or higher, we would fail to reject the null at this level.