significance

significance
n.
(in statistics) a relationship between two groups of observations indicating that the difference between them is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone. An assumption is made that there is no difference between the two populations from which the two groups come (null hypothesis). This is tested, and a calculation indicating that there is a probability of less than 5% (P<0.05) that the observed difference or a larger one could have arisen by chance is regarded as being statistically significant and the null hypothesis is rejected. Some tests are parametric, based on the assumption that the range of observations are distributed by chance in a normal or Gaussian distribution, where 95% lie within two standard deviation of the mean (Student's t test to compare means). Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U tests) make no assumptions about distribution patterns. See also frequency distribution, standard error.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Significance — Sig*nif i*cance, Significancy Sig*nif i*can*cy, n. [L. significantia.] 1. The quality or state of being significant. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, of a motion of the hand, or of a word… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • significance — I noun bearing, concern, concernment, consequence, distinction, eminence, essentiality, excellence, force, gist, gravity, greatness, import, importance, interest, mark, materiality, materialness, matter, meaning, merit, moment, momentousness,… …   Law dictionary

  • significance — c.1300, from L. significantia meaning, force, energy, from significans, prp. of significare (see SIGNIFY (Cf. signify)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • significance — 1 signification, import, *meaning, sense, acceptation Analogous words: denotation, connotation (see under DENOTE): suggestion, implication, intimation (see corresponding verbs at SUGGEST) 2 *importance, import, consequence, moment, weight… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • significance — ► NOUN 1) the quality of being significant; importance. 2) the unstated meaning to be found in words or events. ORIGIN Latin significantia, from significare indicate, portend …   English terms dictionary

  • significance — [sig nif′ə kəns] n. [LME < L significantia < significans: see SIGNIFICANT] 1. that which is signified; meaning 2. the quality of being significant; suggestiveness; expressiveness 3. importance; consequence; moment: Also significancy SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • significance — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ considerable, cosmic, deep, enormous, great, historic, immense, major, profound, real ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • significance — sig|nif|i|cance W2 [sıgˈnıfıkəns] n [singular, U] 1.) the importance of an event, action etc, especially because of the effects or influence it will have in the future ≠ ↑insignificance ▪ Stella didn t attach any significance to Doug s query.… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • significance — sig|nif|i|cance [ sıg nıfıkəns ] noun singular or uncount ** 1. ) the importance that something has because it affects other things: significance for: changes that have enormous significance for the medical profession be of great/little etc.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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