Professor Wallace studied over 3,000 elderly individuals for a decade and found a statistically significant relationship between survival rate and number of close friends. Specifically, he found that elderly individuals with few close friends had a much higher death rate. To say that the results of his study are "statistically significant" means that:
A) the finding has great practical value and significance.
B) there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables.
C) the finding does not have to be replicated to be accepted by the scientific community.
D) the results are unlikely to have occurred by chance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a study or experiment produces statistically significant results, it essentially means that the observed effects were highly unlikely to occur by chance alone. Therefore, the results are reliable and can be used to draw valid conclusions. However, the term does not indicate that the finding has practical value or that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables. Additionally, while it doesn't have to be replicated to be accepted, replication is important in scientific research to ensure that the findings are robust and reliable.

Professor Wallace Studied Over 3,000 Elderly Individuals for a Decade