Is banning significance testing the best way to improve applied social science research? – Questions on Gorard (2016)

Spreckelsen, T. F. and Van Der Horst, M. (2016) Is banning significance testing the best way to improve applied social science research? – Questions on Gorard (2016). Sociological Research Online, 21(3), pp. 95-105. (doi: 10.5153/sro.4076)

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Abstract

Significance testing is widely used in social science research. It has long been criticised on statistical grounds and problems in the research practice. This paper is an applied researchers’ response to Gorard's (2016) ‘Damaging real lives through obstinacy: re-emphasising why significance testing is wrong’ in Sociological Research Online 21(1). He participates in this debate concluding from the issues raised that the use and teaching of significance testing should cease immediately. In that, he goes beyond a mere ban of significance testing, but claims that researchers still doing this are being unethical. We argue that his attack on applied scientists is unlikely to improve social science research and we believe he does not sufficiently prove his claims. In particular we are concerned that with a narrow focus on statistical significance, Gorard misses alternative, if not more important, explanations for the often-lamented problems in social science research. Instead, we argue that it is important to take into account the full research process, not just the step of data analysis, to get a better idea of the best evidence regarding a hypothesis.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Spreckelsen, Dr Thees
Authors: Spreckelsen, T. F., and Van Der Horst, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
Journal Name:Sociological Research Online
Publisher:Sociological Research Online
ISSN:1360-7804
ISSN (Online):1360-7804
Published Online:31 August 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Sociological Research Online 21(3): 95-105
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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