<p>This doesn't seem like a bad question, or that it should be off-topic necessarily, to me.  Questions asking for <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/references" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;references&#39;" rel="tag">references</a>, and questions asking about the theoretical / philosophical aspects of hypothesis testing have long been on-topic.  Instead, I see two potential issues:  </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Try to frame your question in such a way that there can be a right answer or an answer that can justifiably be selected as the accepted one.  It may be worth reading the classic SE blog post <a href="http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2011/01/real-questions-have-answers/">Real questions have answers</a>.</p></li>
<li><p>Be careful that your question doesn't become too diffuse.  You are asking about a lot of topics ("what they show and what they don't, reporting effect sizes, alternatives etc.").  That isn't necessarily out of bounds&mdash;it depends on how well you can weave them together.  If necessary, you can ask a series of focused questions, where each in turn ties in to the threads that preceded it (by linking, etc.).  Also be aware that some of those topics have already been discussed on the site, so be sure you've searched thoroughly first.  </p></li>
</ol>
