Statistical significance refers to the likelihood that the results of a study are not due to chance, while clinical significance refers to the practical importance of the results in terms of their impact on patient care. In other words, statistical significance is a measure of the strength of the evidence, while clinical significance is a measure of the relevance of the evidence to real-world situations.
Using a quantitative research article from one of the previous topics, analyze the p-value. What is it? Is it statistically significant? If your p-value is not statistically significant what is the clinical significance? Generalizability of research depends on a variety of factors. List three factors of generalizability, and discuss whether this research article is generalizable to the nursing problem you are researching.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN Discussion Question Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
The p-value represents the probability that the observed results (or something more extreme) occurred by chance if the null hypothesis were true. A smaller p-value suggests stronger evidence against the null hypothesis. In most studies, a commonly accepted threshold for statistical significance is a p-value less than 0.05. If the p-value is less than this threshold, the results are considered statistically significant.
However, statistical significance doesn’t always align with clinical significance. For instance, a medication might show a statistically significant effect on a condition but have only a negligible impact on patient outcomes. In cases where the p-value is not statistically significant, it implies that the results could have happened by chance. Despite this, there might still be clinical significance, especially if the effect, while not statistically significant, is meaningful in real-world applications.
Factors influencing generalizability include the sample size, demographics of the studied population, and the study’s methodology. If the research article’s sample size is small or doesn’t represent the population relevant to your nursing problem, its findings might not be broadly applicable. Similarly, if the methodology lacks rigor or the demographics differ significantly from your patient population, generalizability could be limited.
Remember, it’s crucial to assess the relevance of research findings in the context of your nursing problem and patient population. Double-checking the methodology, sample size, and population characteristics will help determine the applicability of the research findings to your specific area of interest.