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Selected Works

Nancy Leech

Statistical Significance

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Do Effect-Size Measures Measure Up?: A Brief Assessment, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Joel R. Levin, Nancy L. Leech May 2016

Do Effect-Size Measures Measure Up?: A Brief Assessment, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Joel R. Levin, Nancy L. Leech

Nancy Leech

Because of criticisms leveled at statistical hypothesis testing, some researchers have argued that measures of effect size should replace the significance-testing practice. We contend that although effect-size measures have logical appeal, they are also associated with a number of limitations that may result in problematic interpretations of them in research on children and adults with learning disabilities (LD). The purpose of the present paper is to provide a framework for reporting and interpreting empirical research findings in LD research. Specifically, we recommend that: (1) researchers apply criteria of both statistical significance and substantive significance to help consumers of research assess …


A Proposed Fourth Measure Of Significance: The Role Of Economic Significance In Educational Research, Nancy L. Leech, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie May 2016

A Proposed Fourth Measure Of Significance: The Role Of Economic Significance In Educational Research, Nancy L. Leech, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie

Nancy Leech

The purpose of this paper is to examine economic significance as a fourth measure of significance. In addition to describing and operationalising the concept of economic significance, a typology of economic significance indices is presented, including an example of how to compute these measures, as well as how to utilise them in applied research. We demonstrate how interventions that yield no statistical, practical or clinical effects may be economically significant. Economic significance is not only relevant in the majority of educational research studies, but also is more readily understood by policy makers and stakeholders than are the other three measures …