Statistician how-to
How to Explain a p-Value Correctly
p-values are often misunderstood.
Quick answer
p-values are often misunderstood. In short: state; explain; say, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
State the null hypothesis.
Explain the p-value.
Say what it is not.
Report effect size.
Report intervals.
Give context.
Safety reminders for statisticians
- Protect patient data
- Follow research ethics
- Avoid p-hacking
- Disclose limitations
Key terms
p-value · Confidence interval · Sample size · Power · Regression · Randomization: see the full statistician glossary.