7.4: Probability and significance

Question 1

Explain why a 5 per cent significance level is the accepted level of significance in psychological research (2 marks)

Answer 1

A 5 per cent significance level is the accepted level of significance in psychological research, because it strikes a balance between making a Type I and a Type II error

Question 2

What is meant by ‘the results were significant at p<0.05’? (2 marks)

Answer 2

This means that there is a less than 5% likelihood that this difference would occur if there is no real difference between the conditions OR the researchers would have a 95% confidence level