Power analysis is vital for several reasons: - Determining Sample Size: One of the primary purposes of power analysis is to estimate the sample size required to detect an effect with a specified level of confidence. This ensures that studies are neither underpowered (too small to detect meaningful effects) nor overpowered (too large, wasting resources and potentially exposing more participants than necessary). - Ethical Considerations: Conducting studies with appropriate sample sizes ensures that participants are not subjected to unnecessary risks or burdens. It also helps in the efficient allocation of limited research resources. - Interpreting Results: Understanding the power of a study helps in interpreting non-significant results. A study with low power might not detect an effect even if one exists, while a study with high power provides confidence in the reliability of its findings.
