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Pearson’s Correlation

Pearson's Correlation

The bivariate Pearson Correlation

produces
 a sample correlation coefficient, r,
which measures the strength and
direction of linear relationships
between pairs of continuous variables.

Test Statistic

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Test Statistic contd…

 Correlation can take on any value in the

range [-1, 1]. The sign of the correlation
coefficient indicates the direction of the
relationship, while the magnitude of the
correlation (how close it is to -1 or +1)
indicates the strength of the relationship.
 -1 : perfectly negative linear relationship
 0 : no relationship
 +1 : perfectly positive linear relationship
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Test Statistic contd…

 The strength can be assessed by these

general guidelines which may vary by
discipline):
 .1 < | r | < .3 … small / weak correlation
 .3 < | r | < .5 … medium / moderate
correlation
 .5 < | r | ……… large / strong correlation

 Source: Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for

the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
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Test Statistic contd…

r = -0.90 r = 0.00 r = 0.90

negative correlation positive correlation

Figure 1. Scatter Plot

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Example of Pearson's correlation

 A dietetics student wanted to look at

the relationship between calcium
intake and knowledge about calcium in
sports science students. Table 1 shows
the data sheet collected.

Dietetics study data

Respondent number Knowledge score (Out of 50) Calcium intake (mg/day)
1 10 450
2 42 1050
3 38 900
4 15 525
5 22 710
6 32 854
7 40 800
8 14 493
9 26 730
10 32 894
11 38 940
12 25 733
13 48 985
14 28 763
15 22 583
16 45 850
17 18 798
18 24 754
19 30 805
8 20 43 1085

Research question

Is there a relationship between calcium

intake and knowledge about calcium in
sports science students?

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Hypotheses

H0: There is no correlation between calcium

intake and knowledge about calcium in
sports science students (equivalent to saying
r = 0)
H1: There is a correlation between calcium
intake and knowledge about calcium in
sports science students (equivalent to saying
r ≠ 0)

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Step 1. Scatter Plot (SPSS)

Graph > Legacy dialogs > Scatter/Dot

> Simple Scatter > Define …

Put the variable in Y and X axis - in this

case calcium intake in Y-axis and
knowledge score in X-axis.

Click OK
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Scatter Plot

This scatter plot implies that

as the knowledge score
increases so the calcium
intake increases.

This shows a positive linear

relationship.

12 Figure 2. Scatter Plot

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Step 2. Pearson's correlation

coefficient (SPSS)

Analyze > Correlate > Bivariate…

Select the 2 variables to be correlated –

in this case calcium intake and
knowledge score – into the Variable list

Ensure the Pearson Correlation

Coefficients box is ticked

13 Click OK

Pearson's correlation

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Knowledge Calcium intake

score (Out of 50) (mg/day)
(Xi-Xm)(Yi-
X Y Xi-Xm Yi-Ym Ym) (Xi-Xm)2 (Yi-Ym)2 covar(XY) var(X) var(Y) r(XY)
10 450 -19.6 -335.1 6567.96 384.16 112292.01
42 1050 12.4 264.9 3284.76 153.76 70172.01
38 900 8.4 114.9 965.16 70.56 13202.01
15 525 -14.6 -260.1 3797.46 213.16 67652.01
11.07106174.390 0.88225
22 710 -7.6 -75.1 570.76 57.76 5640.01 1703.3579 233 3 5
32 854 2.4 68.9 165.36 5.76 4747.21
40 800 10.4 14.9 154.96 108.16 222.01
14 493 -15.6 -292.1 4556.76 243.36 85322.41 covar(XY)
26 730 -3.6 -55.1 198.36 12.96 3036.01
32 894 2.4 108.9 261.36 5.76 11859.21
38 940 8.4 154.9 1301.16 70.56 23994.01 var(X)
25 733 -4.6 -52.1 239.66 21.16 2714.41
48 985 18.4 199.9 3678.16 338.56 39960.01
28 763 -1.6 -22.1 35.36 2.56 488.41
22 583 -7.6 -202.1 1535.96 57.76 40844.41 var(Y)
45 850 15.4 64.9 999.46 237.16 4212.01
18 798 -11.6 12.9 -149.64 134.56 166.41
24 754 -5.6 -31.1 174.16 31.36 967.21 r(XY) covar(XY)/(var(X)*var(Y))
30 805 0.4 19.9 7.96 0.16 396.01
43 1085 13.4 299.9 4018.66 179.56 89940.01
29.6 785.1 sum 32363.8 2328.8 577827.8

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Results

From the Correlations table, it can be seen that

the
correlation coefficient (r) equals 0.882, indicating
a strong relationship, as guessed earlier.
p < 0.001 and indicates that the coefficient is
significantly different from 0.

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Conclusion

 We can conclude that for sports science

students, there is evidence that knowledge
about calcium is related to calcium intake.
 In particular, it seems that the more a sports
science student knows about calcium, the
greater their calcium intake is.
 r = 0.88, p <0.001

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Thank You

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