Osmora Scientific Glossary
Statistical significance
A statistical judgment that an observed result is unlikely under a specified null hypothesis, commonly assessed with a p-value threshold. It concerns the role of chance, not the size or practical importance of an effect.
In plain language
A measure of how unlikely a result is to be due to chance — not a measure of how big or important it is.
Why it matters in research
A statistically significant result is not automatically large, important, or practically meaningful; significance and importance are different questions.
Where you'll encounter it
Study results and their interpretation.
Related terms
Related Academy lessons
Source
- U.S. National Library of Medicine / NIH statistical and study-design educational references. Retrieved 2026.