Historical Origins of Statistical Testing Practices

Abstract

Textbook discussion of statistical testing is the topic of interest. Some 28 books published from 1910 to 1949, 19 books published from 1990 to 1992, plus five multiple-edition books were reviewed in terms of presentations of statistical testing. It was of interest to discover textbook coverage of the P-value (i.e., Fisher) and fixed-alpha (i.e., Neyman-Pearson) approaches to statistical testing. Also of interest in the review were some issues and concerns related to the practice and teaching of statistical testing: (a) levels of significance, (b) importance of effects, (c) statistical power and sample size, and (d) multiple testing. It is concluded that it is not statistical testing itself that is at fault; rather, some of the textbook presentation, teaching practices, and journal editorial reviewing may be questioned.