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Statistics review 3: Hypothesis testing and P values

Elise Whitley1 and Jonathan Ball2

Author Affiliations

1 Lecturer in Medical Statistics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

2 Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK

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Critical Care 2002, 6:222-225 doi:10.1186/cc1493

Published: 18 March 2002

Abstract

The present review introduces the general philosophy behind hypothesis (significance) testing and calculation of P values. Guidelines for the interpretation of P values are also provided in the context of a published example, along with some of the common pitfalls. Examples of specific statistical tests will be covered in future reviews.

Keywords:
hypothesis testing; null hypothesis; P value