Open Peer Commentary Chow: Statistical significance
Statistical significance testing was not meant for weak corroborations of weaker theories
Fred L. Bookstein a1 a1 Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
fred@brainmap.med.umich.edu
Abstract
Chow sets his version of statistical significance testing in
an impoverished context of “theory corroboration”
that explicitly excludes well-posed theories admitting of strong support by precise empirical evidence. He demonstrates no scientific
usefulness for the problematic procedure he recommends instead.
The important role played by significance testing in today's
behavioral and brain sciences is wholly inconsistent with the rhetoric
he would enforce.
