In a test of significance, p value is 0.023 the observed difference in study can be considered as –
**Core Concept**
The p-value in a test of significance represents the probability of observing the study results, or more extreme, under the null hypothesis. It is a measure of the statistical significance of the observed difference.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
A p-value of 0.023 indicates that the probability of observing the study results, or more extreme, under the null hypothesis is less than 2.3%. This means that the observed difference is statistically significant, suggesting that the null hypothesis can be rejected. In other words, the observed difference is unlikely to occur by chance alone.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because a p-value of 0.023 does not indicate a non-significant result, which is typically considered as p > 0.05.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because a p-value of 0.023 does not indicate a trend towards significance, which is typically considered as 0.05 < p < 0.1.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because a p-value of 0.023 does not indicate a highly significant result, which is typically considered as p < 0.01.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
When interpreting p-values, it is essential to remember that a small p-value does not necessarily imply a large effect size. A small p-value can result from a large sample size, even if the effect size is small.
**Correct Answer: C. Statistically significant.**