THE MEANING OF TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE.

The article presents a simplified explanation of tests of significance including formulas and underlying assumptions. The commonly used statistical techniques to differentiate selected samples or populations to a given trait under consideration includes chi-square, the Fisher-t and the analysis of variance. Understanding of these test of significance will enable teachers to appraise critically any claims made on the superiority of certain methods and techniques over others and to decide the desirability of altering present methods on the basis of statistical soundness of the evidence presented. The statistical formula for computing chi-square, the Fisher-t and analysis of variance were also presented.