THE INSIGNIFICANCE OF NULL HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE TESTING

In: Political research quarterly: PRQ ; official journal of Western Political Science Association, Pacific Northwest Political Science Association, Southern California Political Science Association, Northern California Political Science Association, Band 52, Heft 3, S. 647-674

Abstract

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT NULL HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE TESTING AS PRACTICED IN POLITICAL SCIENCE IS DEEPLY FLAWED AND WIDELY MISUNDERSTOOD. THIS IS IMPORTANT SINCE MOST EMPIRICAL WORK ARGUES THE VALUE OF FINDINGS THROUGH THE USE OF THE NULL HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE TEST. IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF THE NULL HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE TESTING PARADIGM IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND DISCUSSES MAJOR PROBLEMS -- SOME OF WHICH ARE LOGICAL INCONSISTENCIES WHILE OTHERS ARE MORE INTERPRETIVE IN NATURE. HE SUGGESTS ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUES TO CONVEY EFFECTIVELY THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA-ANALYTIC FINDINGS. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH EXAMPLES USING EMPIRICAL POLITICAL SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS.