What does statistical significance indicate in research results?

Statistical significance reflects the likelihood that the observed results in a study are not due to random chance. When researchers obtain statistically significant results, it implies that the data collected demonstrates a consistent pattern that supports the research hypothesis with a high degree of confidence. This is typically determined using a p-value threshold (often set at 0.05), where a p-value below this threshold suggests that the likelihood of the results occurring randomly is very low.

In contexts such as hypothesis testing, statistical significance serves as a crucial criterion for evaluating the validity of findings. It allows researchers to infer that their observations could be attributed to a genuine effect rather than mere variability inherent in the data, thus marking an important milestone in research analysis.