What do we know for sure about human psychology? (with Simine Vazire)
Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg
00:00
Understand Sample Size to Guard Against False Discoveries
A small sample size significantly impacts the false discovery rate (FDR) in research, leading to a higher likelihood of false discoveries when true discoveries are limited due to low statistical power. Researchers often mistakenly believe that a small sample primarily increases the chance of false negatives, while the reality is it also elevates false positives because fewer true discoveries lead to a larger proportion of significant results being false. Additionally, the supposed protection against false discoveries provided by a 5% error rate is independent of sample size, complicating how researchers interpret statistical significance and FDR. Thus, understanding this balance is crucial for interpreting research results accurately.
Transcript
Play full episode
