Statistical significance doesn't mean your finding matters in the real world. Large samples can make tiny effects look significant, so explain why your results matter, not just the p-value. Avoid calling things "significant" in qualitative work because committee members might think you mean statistical significance.
Your results can be statistically significant and still relatively meaningless in the real world. In your dissertation, you're not just expected to report a p-value, but also talk about it and why it's important. You can end up with a huge sample and tiny things can be statistically significant, but you need to be able to understand and explain why the results you have are actually meaningful. The word significant has a strong meaning within data analysis, meaning you've met a bar, a p-value. However, we use the word significant in the world in many different ways. I want to caution you, especially if you're doing qualitative research, about saying a result is significant because that can imply to a committee member that you're talking about statistical significance and can get to be confusing. Drop the word help in the comments. And I'll send you the link for my free dissertation help community.
