Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Small Samples, Big Problems, Statistical Tests in Nematology Research Need Power Cover

Small Samples, Big Problems, Statistical Tests in Nematology Research Need Power

By: Itsuhiro Ko and  David Rice  
Open Access
|Feb 2026

Abstract

In nematology research, hypothesis testing is a fundamental method and is typically supported by statistical significance (e.g., P-value <0.05). However, our review of recent publications in nematology reveals frequent issues, including unjustified sample size and unclear reporting of statistical methods, which undermines the validity and reproducibility of the results. To address these issues, we recommend researchers to conduct a priori power analyses to estimate adequate sample sizes and report key descriptive statistics (e.g., effect size). These practices not only strengthen the reliability of research, but can also help answer a central question for investigators: How many samples are needed to detect a “truly” statistically significant difference in an experiment?

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0062 | Journal eISSN: 2640-396X | Journal ISSN: 0022-300X
Language: English
Submitted on: Sep 16, 2025
|
Published on: Feb 2, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2026 Itsuhiro Ko, David Rice, published by Society of Nematologists, Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.