P -values have been around for nearly a century, and they’ve been the subject of criticism since their origin. In recent years, the debate over p-values has risen to a fever pitch. In particular, there are serious fears that p-values are misused to such an extent that it has actually damaged science.

In March 2016, spurred on by the growing concerns, the American Statistical Association (ASA) did something that it has never done before and took an official position on a statistical practice—how to use p-values. The ASA tapped a group of 20 experts who discussed this over the course of many months. Despite facing complex issues and many heated disagreements, this group managed to reach a consensus on specific points and produce the “ASA Statement on Statistical Significance and P-values” (see page 7 of the article, “The ASA’s statement on p-values: context, process, and purpose.”)

 …