What are the implications of low statistical power for your research?
When embarking on research, understanding statistical power is crucial. Statistical power is the probability that a study will detect an effect when there is an effect to be detected. Low statistical power in your research can lead to a range of problems, potentially undermining the validity of your findings. Without sufficient power, you risk missing real effects—this is known as a Type II error. In essence, you might conclude there is no effect when, in fact, there is one. Moreover, low power can affect the credibility of your research, as other scholars may question the reliability of your results, leading to difficulties in publishing or garnering peer respect.