Rethinking Statistics and P-Values in Dairy Science Publishing, Plus Dairying in New Zealand with Richard Laven, BVSc, PhD

Are we really looking at what our data might be saying, or are we all overrelying on a blanket approach to p-values? This is the discussion that inspired the paper at the center of our latest episode. Richard Laven, BVSc, PhD, professor of production animal health and welfare at Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science in New Zealand, joins host Matt Lucy to talk about his JDS Communications article, “Common misinterpretations of statistical significance and P-values in dairy research,” coauthored with D. AaronYang, a statistician and epidemiologist with Nanjing Agricultural University. The Editor’s Choice article came out in late 2025 and ranked among the journal’s most downloaded papers of the year. Richard and Matt start by discussing Richard’s path to veterinary science and some of the unique features of New Zealand dairying. They then work through the three issues the paper addresses: comparing results by their significance levels, treating a nonsignificant result as proof of no effect, and calling results near a significance thresholda trend or tendency. Drawing on real examples from the peer reviewed literature, including a fertility study that reported no effect despite a 7% difference in pregnancy rate, Richard makes the case for confidence intervals, effect sizes,and practical importance as a clearer way to show what the data can and can’t rule out. While it may take longer, he recommends that all of his students actually look at the effect their work found, since that is the interesting thing. They also dig into the paper’s calls to action toward four reporting standards for journals and reviewers, and why taking the extra time with your statistics is an investment in good scientific practice and results in better information for you and your readers.

Episode Forty Show Notes

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn

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Explore the papers and resources discussed in theepisode:

Common misinterpretations of statistical significance and P-values in dairy research, JDS Communications (2025) The ASA Statement on p-Values: Context, Process, and Purpose, The American Statistician (2016)