Definition

Adjective: 1. Not statistically significant; likely due to random chance rather than a specific cause or effect. Used primarily in statistics and research to describe a result, difference, or relationship that is not strong enough to be considered meaningful or reliable, as it could easily have occurred by random variation.

Usage and Examples

• Primary Usage (Statistical Context):
  • The study found a nonsignificant difference in test scores between the two groups, suggesting the new teaching method had no measurable effect.
  • The p-value was 0.07, which is considered nonsignificant at the conventional threshold of 0.05.
  • Researchers must report both significant and nonsignificant results to avoid publication bias.

Advanced Usage

• "Nonsignificant trend": A pattern in data that suggests a possible relationship but does not meet the statistical criteria to be considered reliable evidence of that relationship.
  • The data showed a nonsignificant trend toward improvement, warranting further investigation with a larger sample size.

Variants and Related Words

• Significant (adj.): The direct antonym. Describes a result that is statistically unlikely to be due to chance, implying a meaningful effect or relationship.
• Nonsignificance (n.): The state or quality of being nonsignificant.
  • The nonsignificance of the finding was disappointing but important for an accurate understanding.

Synonyms

• Statistically insignificant: The most precise and direct synonym.
• Not significant: A common plain-language alternative.
• Inconclusive: While similar, this term is broader and can imply insufficient data or unclear results, not solely a statistical threshold.

Antonyms

• Significant
• Statistically significant
• Meaningful (in a statistical context)

Adjective

1. attributable to chance