Reducing our dependence on null hypothesis testing: A key to enhance the reproducibility and credibility of our science

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Reducing our dependence on null hypothesis testing: A key to enhance the reproducibility and credibility of our science
 
Creator Murphy, Kevin R.
 
Subject industrial psychology; research methods Significance Testing; Confidence Intervals; Questionable Research Practices; Null Hypothesis
Description Problemification: Over-reliance on null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is one of the most important causes of the emerging crisis over the credibility and reproducibility of our science.Implications: Most studies in the behavioural and social sciences have low levels of statistical power. Because ‘significant’ results are often required, but often difficult to produce, the temptation to engage in questionable research practices that will produce these results is immense.Purpose: Methodologists have been trying for decades to convince researchers, reviewers and editors that significance tests are neither informative nor useful. A recent set of articles published in top journals and endorsed by hundreds of scientists around the world seem to provide a fresh impetus for overturning the practice of using NHST as the primary, and sometimes sole basis for evaluating research results.Recommendations: Authors, reviewers and journal editors are asked to change long-engrained habits and realise that ‘statistically significant’ says more about the design of one’s study than about the importance of one’s results. They are urged to embrace the ATOM principle in evaluating research results, that is, accept that there will always be uncertainty, and be thoughtful, open and modest in evaluating what the data mean.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor no funding
Date 2019-11-05
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — comment
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajip.v45i0.1717
 
Source SA Journal of Industrial Psychology; Vol 45 (2019); 4 pages 2071-0763 0258-5200
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1717/2627 https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1717/2626 https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1717/2628 https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1717/2625
 
Coverage world modern none
Rights Copyright (c) 2019 Kevin R. Murphy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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