Nowadays, tests of statistical significance are extremely popular. One reason is that the tests are part of an impressive and well-developed mathematical theory. Another reason is that many investigators just cannot be bothered to set up chance models. The language of testing makes it easy to bypass the model, and talk about "statistically significant" results. This sounds so impressive, and there is so much mathematical machinery clanking around in the background, that tests seem truly scientific -- even when they are complete nonsense. St. Exupéry understood this kind of problem very well: "When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey." -- The Little Prince