SAGE Journal Articles

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article 1: Miller, J. (2017). Hypothesis testing in the real world. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 77, 663–672. doi:10.1177/0013164416667984

Learning Objectives: 6-1: About the use of inferential statistics to determine whether the finding of a study is unusual. | 6-5: The distinction between statistical significance, effect size, confidence intervals, and practical significance.

Summary: The author identifies some of the criticisms of statistical significance testing but argues that statistical significance testing is a useful way to evaluate data. 

Questions to Consider:

  1. What is the logic of statistical significance testing?
  2. What are some of the criticisms of statistical significance testing, and how does the author rebuke these criticisms?
  3. What conclusions does the author draw about the use of statistical significance testing?

Journal Article 2: Barry, A. E., Szucs, L. E., Reyes, J. V., Ji, Q., Wilson, K. L., & Thompson, B. (2016). Failure to report effect sizes: The handling of quantitative results in published health education and behavior research. Health Education & Behavior, 43, 518–527. doi:10.1177/1090198116669521

Learning Objective: 6-5: The distinction between statistical significance, effect size, confidence intervals, and practical significance.

Summary: The article summarizes and reviews the importance of reporting of effect sizes in the area of health education.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What are some of the limitations of statistical significance testing?
  2. Why are effect sizes important?
  3. What are the results and implications of the study?

Journal Article 3: El-Masri, M. M. (2016). Statistical versus clinical significance in nursing research. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 48, 31–32. doi:10.1177/0844562116677895

Learning Objective: 6-5: The distinction between statistical significance, effect size, confidence intervals, and practical significance.

Summary: Clinical significance is essentially the same as practical significance, but is typically reserved for studies on mental or physical health. The author of this paper outlines the differences between clinical and statistical significance in nursing.

Questions to Consider:

  1. Why is statistical significance important?
  2. Why is clinical significance important?
  3. What are some ways to judge clinical significance?