What does a p-value indicate in research?

A p-value is a statistical measure that helps researchers determine the significance of their results. Specifically, it indicates the probability of observing the data collected, or something more extreme, assuming that the null hypothesis is true. The null hypothesis typically represents the idea that there is no effect or no difference in the population being studied. By calculating the p-value, researchers can assess whether the observed effect is likely due to chance or if it is statistically significant, thus leading them to either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Understanding this concept is crucial in research, as it helps in drawing conclusions about the efficacy of treatments or associations within the data. A low p-value (commonly below a threshold of 0.05) suggests that the observed result would be unlikely under the null hypothesis, signaling that the findings may indeed reflect a genuine effect rather than random variation.