對傳統的假設檢驗作為心理學實驗的數據分析工具的評價涉及兩個標準:首先是它是否合法,其次是它是否有用。置於頻率學派統計學框架中的傳統假設檢驗在邏輯上實際上是合法的;但它在效用性方面則有著備擇假設不可證偽以及只能提供定性結論這兩方面的缺陷。置信區間能夠集中地改進和彌補這些缺陷。對傳統假設檢驗使用中錯誤的澄清也使得研究者們開始重視PSI問題,這使得心理學實驗的設計和數據分析從關注總體轉向關注個體。

Traditional hypothesis testing, which serves as the data analysis tool in psychological experiments, can be appraised according to two criterions, the first one is legality and the second utility. The logic foundation of traditional hypothesis testing, rooted in the frame of frequency school statistics, is, in fact, correct. But, in terms of utility, traditional hypothesis testing involves two shortcomings. One is that its alternative hypothesis can't be denied, and the other is that it can only provide qualitative conclusion. Confidence interval is suggested to replace traditional hypothesis testing to report the results of psychological experiments, for it can modify and supplement traditional hypothesis testing in these two aspects. Clarification of the mistakes in the using of traditional hypothesis testing also makes the researchers pay much attention to the PSI problem, which would turn the focus of the design and data analysis of psychological experiments from emphasizing population to emphasizing individuals.