Course: Research Methods
Clinical significance refers to the practical importance of a treatment effect—whether it has a real-world value.
Understanding Clinical Significance
Both in research and in the real world, clinical significance matters a lot. It helps us see if our findings have a real impact. If something is statistically significant, that doesn’t mean it’s also clinically significant. We’ll dig into this more. Afterward, we’ll understand how this concept is applied in different social research fields, such as criminal justice, social work, and political science.
Clinical Significance in Criminal Justice
Take, for example, a new rehabilitation program in the criminal justice system. A study might show a statistically significant reduction in reoffending rates among participants. Yet, if this reduction is from 50% to 48%, although statistically significant, it may not be clinically significant. After all, a 2% reduction might not justify the cost or effort of the program. Above all, it’s about the practical impact, not just the numbers.
Social Work
Now, let’s talk about social work. If we’re testing a new therapy technique, we might find a statistically significant improvement in clients’ mental health scores. However, this statistical improvement might only mean a client’s score on a depression scale moved from 30 to 29.5. If so, then this change, albeit statistically significant, may not be clinically significant. After all, it may not translate into a noticeable improvement in the client’s daily life. Therefore, social workers have to focus on the practical implications of their interventions.
Political Science
In political science, consider a campaign strategy that increases voter turnout. The strategy may lead to a statistically significant increase in the number of voters. Yet, if the increase is from 10,000 to 10,100 voters in a city of a million, the clinical significance might be low. This small increase, although statistically significant, might not change the outcome of an election.
The Importance of Clinical Significance
Clinical significance helps us understand the real-world value of our research findings. Statistical significance is only one piece of the puzzle. If we want to make meaningful contributions to our field, our results should have clinical significance. That’s when our research makes a real difference.
All in all, when conducting research in fields like criminal justice, social work, or political science, we need to consider both statistical and clinical significance. This way, we ensure our research is not only scientifically sound but also practically relevant. After all, the ultimate goal of social research is to better understand and improve our society.