the study was underpowered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the study was underpowered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in research contexts to indicate that a study did not have a sufficient sample size to detect a statistically significant effect. Example: "The results of the trial were inconclusive, primarily because the study was underpowered to identify the differences between the treatment groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The study was underpowered to assess associations in the 78 persons with prevalent T2D who were excluded.

Nature

Statistically significant difference was found in the level of depression but the study was underpowered to detect statistically significant differences in anxiety, hopelessness, and loneliness.

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing

Second, the study was underpowered to detect differences in physical findings.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Moreover, the study was underpowered to detect differences between groups in rarely occurring features, e.g. pregnancy complications.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Even if the study was underpowered to detect significant side effects or complications of unwarranted fast corrections of hyponatremia, we report no complications.

Annals of Intensive Care

When subjects were analysed according to their underlying heart rhythm, the groups were not dissimilar, although the study was underpowered to detect significant differences.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

However, the study was underpowered to detect significant differences between these behaviors within the overall group (Additional file 2: Figure S1B).

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Therefore, the study was underpowered in retrospect.

Plosone

Furthermore, the study was underpowered to perform such an analysis.

Plosone

The study was underpowered to detect an interaction like this (Figure 4 and File S3).

Plosone

Although the study was underpowered for this outcome, no trend was observed.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the study was underpowered", clearly state which specific outcomes or analyses were affected by the lack of power. This provides context and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "the study was underpowered" automatically implies poor study design. It often means that while the methodology was sound, the sample size was insufficient to detect subtle but potentially important effects. Differentiate between sample size issues and methodological flaws.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the study was underpowered" functions as an evaluative statement in research contexts. It typically appears in the discussion or limitations section of a scientific paper to acknowledge that the study's sample size or design might not have been sufficient to detect statistically significant effects. Ludwig confirms that the expression is commonly used in the specified context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the study was underpowered" is a common phrase in scientific literature used to acknowledge a limitation in research. It indicates that the study might not have had sufficient statistical power to detect significant effects, even if they existed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and typically appears in the discussion or limitations section of a scientific paper. To mitigate misinterpretations, it's crucial to distinguish between an underpowered study and a poorly designed one. While alternative phrases like "the study lacked sufficient statistical power" can be used, the core message remains consistent: the findings should be interpreted with caution due to sample size or design constraints.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the study was statistically underpowered

Adds emphasis on the statistical aspect of the power issue.

the study lacked sufficient statistical power

Replaces "underpowered" with a more explicit description of the statistical deficiency.

the study had limited statistical power

Emphasizes the statistical limitations of the study.

the study's power was low

Simplifies the phrasing while retaining the core meaning.

the sample size was inadequate

Focuses on the sample size as the reason for the study's limitations.

the study did not have enough power

Uses more common language while conveying the same meaning.

the trial's sample size was too small

Specifies that the sample size in the trial was not large enough.

the number of participants was insufficient

Highlights the lack of a sufficient number of participants.

the study's ability to detect an effect was limited

Explains that the study was not able to detect a statistically significant effect.

the research design had low sensitivity

Highlights that the research design was not sensitive to detect the outcome.

FAQs

What does it mean when a study is described as "the study was underpowered"?

It means the study didn't have a large enough sample size to reliably detect a statistically significant effect, even if one existed. This can lead to false negatives.

How does being underpowered affect the results of a study?

An underpowered study may fail to detect real effects, leading to inconclusive or misleading results. It increases the risk of Type II errors (false negatives).

What are some alternatives to saying "the study was underpowered"?

You could say the study "lacked sufficient statistical power", "the sample size was inadequate", or "the study had limited statistical power".

How can researchers avoid conducting studies that are underpowered?

Researchers can perform a power analysis before conducting a study to determine the appropriate sample size needed to detect a meaningful effect. This ensures the study has sufficient power.