Ending Reliance on Statistical Significance Will Improve Environmental Inference and Communication

Recently, there has been much discussion about the role of the p -value in scientific research. The American Statistical Association has published an editorial that presents guidelines for the use and interpretation of p -values. Numerous authors have commented and criticized its use as a means to identify scientific importance of results and have called for an end to using the term “statistical significance.” Recent articles in Estuaries and Coasts were evaluated for reliance on the use of statistical significance and reporting errors were identified. Suggestions are made for improving what is reported related to statistical testing. Focus should be on scientific importance of estimates, estimation of the size of the effect and the certainty in the size of the effect instead of simply reporting a p -value and relying on hypothesis tests.