Question

A medical researcher compares a new treatment for poison ivy against a traditional ointment. He finds that the new treatment significantly reduces itching, with a p-value of 0.047. What does the p-value mean in this context?

Answer 1

0.047 is the probability that new treatment significantly reduces itching provided the null hypothesis is true.

Explanation:

We are given the following in the question:

Hypothesis:

New treatment for poison ivy against a traditional ointment.

P-value = 0.047

P-value:

• The p-value is the probability of obtaining observed results of a test, provided that the null hypothesis is true.
• It is the level of marginal significance for the probability of the happening of a given event.

Interpretation:

Thus, 0.047 is the probability that new treatment significantly reduces itching provided the null hypothesis is true that is the new treatment and the traditional ointment have the same effect.