Question

In association studies, the level of significance is considered as:

• A. P = 0.05
• B. P > 0.05
• C. P > 0.1
• D. P $\le$ 0.05

Hint:

Remember that P $\le$ 0.05 is the most widely accepted threshold for statistical significance in many fields, including biology and medicine. A smaller p-value (e.g., P < 0.01) indicates stronger evidence against the null hypothesis.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In statistics, the level of significance, denoted by alpha ($\alpha$), is the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true.
Association studies, like many other scientific studies, use a p-value to determine whether an observed association is statistically significant.
The p-value is the probability of obtaining test results at least as extreme as the results actually observed, under the assumption that the null hypothesis is correct.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
A common convention in most fields of science is to set the significance level at 0.05. This means that there is a 5% chance of concluding that a difference exists when there is no actual difference.
If the calculated p-value is less than or equal to this threshold ($\alpha$ = 0.05), the results are considered statistically significant.
This is expressed as P $\le$ 0.05.
- P = 0.05 means the probability is exactly 5%.
- P > 0.05 means the result is not statistically significant.
- P > 0.1 means the result is not statistically significant and the evidence against the null hypothesis is very weak.
- P $\le$ 0.05 means the probability is 5% or less, which is the standard for rejecting the null hypothesis and accepting that the association is statistically significant.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Based on the standard convention in statistical analysis and association studies, a p-value less than or equal to 0.05 is considered to indicate a statistically significant result. Therefore, the correct option is P $\le$ 0.05.