Researchers in psychology have a tough job. They often focus too much on p-values and forget about effect sizes. This can make their findings less trustworthy.

1. Misunderstanding P-Values

• P-values are helpful, but people often mistake them for a sign that results are important. They are not the same as measuring the actual effect of something.
• The common rule of $p < 0.05$ can lead to decisions that don't really consider if the findings matter in real life.

2. Ignoring Real-World Effects

• When researchers focus only on p-values, they miss out on understanding how big or small an effect is. This is important because psychology studies often have consequences in the real world.
• Effect sizes give important information. They help researchers know if their findings can actually be useful in real situations, like helping to shape programs or policies.

3. Challenges with Power Analysis

• To figure out the right number of participants needed in a study, researchers do power analyses. This helps them find clear effect sizes. But this can be tricky and is very important for designing strong studies.
• Many researchers aren't trained in statistical power, leading to studies that don't have enough participants. This results in p-values that don't tell us much.

Proposed Solutions

• Education: Researchers should get more training on effect sizes and power analysis. This will help them understand why these concepts matter.
• Reporting Effect Sizes: Journals should ask researchers to share effect sizes along with p-values. This can help everyone interpret the research better.

By tackling these problems, psychology research can make stronger and more meaningful conclusions that can really make a difference.