Teaching Practical Significance: Integrating Effect Size Concepts in the Interpretation of Survey-Based Research

Music City Center 

Effect sizes are central to statistical analysis, particularly in interpreting large-scale survey and health data where statistical significance alone may not capture real-world relevance. In an era of declining survey response rates and increasing concern about data quality, helping students grasp the concept of effect sizes is essential for building statistical literacy. This talk explores strategies for teaching effect sizes to undergraduate health science students, with a focus on connecting theoretical concepts to applied contexts such as national health and labor surveys. We demonstrate how effect size interpretation complements statistical significance, especially when working with biased or complex survey data. Practical teaching methods, real-world examples, and common instructional challenges will be discussed. By integrating effect size interpretation into curricula that touch on survey data, educators can prepare students to critically evaluate the practical importance of research findings—an essential skill for evidence-based practice and data-driven decision-making.

Effect Sizes


Health Sciences Education


Statistical Literacy


Evidence-Based Practice

Teaching Methodologies 

Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences