P-value

The P-value, or probability value, represents the probability of observing a test statistic as extreme or more extreme than the calculated value, assuming the null hypothesis is true. It measures the likelihood of obtaining sample results by chance alone. A smaller P-value indicates stronger evidence against the null hypothesis.

Compare the P-value to a predetermined significance level, typically 0.05. If the P-value is less than 0.05, reject the null hypothesis, indicating the observed outcome is highly unlikely under the null hypothesis. If the P-value is greater than 0.05, fail to reject the null hypothesis.

The P-value is the area at the tail of the probability distribution, demarcated by the test statistic value. It can be calculated at the right tail, left tail, or both tails depending on the hypothesis and test statistic value. This tail area represents the probability of observing extreme results by chance.

A large P-value indicates insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. However, a large P-value does not mean the null hypothesis is true. It simply suggests the observed data is reasonably likely under the null hypothesis, so you fail to reject it rather than accept it.

No. P-value is not the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis, nor is it a statistical error rate or sampling error. P-value also does not indicate a 95% chance that the observed difference is real. It specifically measures the probability of observing the test statistic under the assumption that the null hypothesis is true.

The 0.05 significance level is a predetermined threshold convention in statistics. When P-value is less than 0.05, results are considered statistically significant, meaning the observed outcome is highly unlikely by chance alone. This threshold balances the need to detect real effects while controlling false positives.

P-value does not convey information about the truth of the null or alternative hypotheses. It does not indicate whether the null hypothesis is true, nor does it measure the magnitude or practical importance of an effect. P-value is solely a measure of evidence strength against the null hypothesis based on sample data.