In statistical terms, what does a p-value of less than 0.05 indicate?

A p-value of less than 0.05 indicates that the results are statistically significant, suggesting strong evidence against the null hypothesis. In hypothesis testing, the p-value helps researchers understand the probability of observing the given data, or something more extreme, if the null hypothesis is true. A p-value below 0.05 implies that there is less than a 5% probability that the observed results occurred due to random chance alone, leading researchers to conclude that there is likely a true effect or relationship present.

This threshold is commonly used in many fields, including health research, to determine whether the findings warrant further investigation or support for a hypothesis. It does not imply that the effect is large or practically significant, but it does suggest that it is unlikely to be a result of random error. Thus, a p-value of less than 0.05 is a key indicator of statistical significance in research studies.