Controversy
Since significance tests were first popularized, many objections have been voiced by prominent and respected statisticians. The volume of criticism and rebuttal has filled books with language seldom used in the scholarly debate of a dry subject. Much of the criticism was published more than 40 years ago. The fires of controversy have burned hottest in the field of experimental psychology. Nickerson surveyed the issues in the year 2000. He included 300 references and reported 20 criticisms and almost as many recommendations, alternatives and supplements. The following section greatly condenses Nickerson's discussion, omitting many issues.
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