What does a significant result from a chi-square test suggest?

A significant result from a chi-square test indicates that there is an association between the categorical variables being examined. This statistical test is used to determine whether the frequency distribution of a categorical variable differs from what would be expected if there were no association between the variables. When the result is significant, it suggests that the observed frequencies are unlikely to have occurred under the assumption of independence, meaning that the variables are related in some way.

The chi-square test evaluates the null hypothesis, which posits that the variables are independent and that any observed differences are due to random variation. A significant result provides evidence against this null hypothesis, leading researchers to conclude that there is a relationship between the variables, impacting how they interact in the population being studied.