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Module 6

Chapter VI

CORRELATION

Correlation is a measure of relationship between two variables.

Coefficient of correlation determines validity, reliability and objectivity of an
examination prepared. It also indicates the amount of agreement or
disagreement between group of scores, measurements, or individuals.
Correlation ranges in value from +1.00 through 0.00 up to -1.00.

Correlation tests are used to determine how strongly the scores of two
variables are associated or correlated, for instance, whether a correlation
exists between Accounting students’ pre-board examination scores and their
scores in the CPA board examination.

Correlation denotes positive or negative association between variables

in a study.

Examples:

1. An example of a strong positive correlation would be the

correlation between age and job experience. Typically, the longer
people are alive, the more job experience they might have.
2. An example of a strong negative relationship might occur between
the strength of people’s party affiliations and their willingness to vote
for a candidate from different parties. In many elections, Party XXX are
unlikely to vote for Party ZZZ, and vice versa.

Interpretation of ranges:

0.00 No correlation
+0.01-+0.20 Negligible correlation
+0.21-+0.40 Low correlation
+0.41-+0.70 Moderate correlation
+0.71-+0.90 High correlation
+0.91-+0.99 Very high correlation
+1.00 Perfect correlation

PEARSON PRODUCT-MOMENT CORRELATION COEFFICIENT

The most widely used type of correlation coefficient is Pearson r also

called linear or product-moment correlation.

The Pearson r is used to find the correlation between interval data.

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Formula:

r= N∑XY - ∑X∑Y

[N∑X2 – (∑X)2][N∑Y2-(∑Y)2]

where: N = number of cases

∑XY= sum of the products of X and Y
∑X= sum of X
∑Y = sum of Y
∑X2 = sum of the squares of X
∑Y2 = sum of the squares of Y

Example: Solve for the coefficient of correlation of the scores of 12 students in

English (X) and Science (Y).

Student X Y XY X2 Y2
1 21 27 567 441 729
2 22 28 616 484 784
3 28 27 756 784 729
4 27 10 270 729 100
5 48 30 1440 2304 900
6 22 21 462 484 441
7 27 27 729 729 729
8 6 21 126 36 441
9 11 21 231 121 441
10 12 28 336 144 784
11 16 30 480 256 900
12 28 21 588 784 441
Total 268 291 6601 7296 7419

r= 12(6001)-(286)(291)

[12(7296)-(268)2][12(7419)-(291)2

r = 0.15. This means that there is negligible correlation between the

scores of 12 students in English and Science.

SPEARMAN RHO COEFFICIENT OF CORRELATION

- It is used for ordinal data.
- It is a measure of the linear relationship between two variables. It
differs from Pearson’s correlation only in that the computations are
done after the numbers are converted to ranks.
Formula:

rho = 1 - 6 ∑D2
N(N2 -1)
where: 1 is constant ∑D2 = sum of D2
6 is constant N = sum of pairs of scores or measures
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Example: Solve for the coefficient of correlation of the scores of 12 students in

English (X) and Science (Y) using Spearman rho.

Student X Y Rx Ry D D2
1 21 27 8 6 2 4
2 22 28 6.5 3.5 3 9
3 28 27 2.5 6 -3.5 12.25
4 27 10 4.5 12 -7.5 56.25
5 48 30 1 1.5 -0.5 0.25
6 22 21 6.5 9.5 -3 9
7 27 27 4.5 6 -1.5 2.25
8 6 21 12 9.5 2.5 6.25
9 11 21 11 9.5 1.5 2.25
10 12 28 10 3.5 6.5 42.25
11 16 30 9 1.5 7.5 56.25
12 28 21 2.5 9.5 -7 49
∑D = 249
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rho= 1 - 6(249)
12(122 -1)
rho = 0.13. This means that there is negligible correlation between
the scores of 12 students in English and Science.

Post-test
Directions: Solve the following. Write your solution and final answer in a sheet
of paper.
1. Find the coefficient of correlation by the use of Spearman rho and
interpret the results.
The table below shows the ages (X) and systolic blood pressure
(Y) of 12 women.
X (age) Y (blood pressure)
56 147
42 125
72 160
36 118
63 149
47 128
55 150
49 145
38 115
42 140
68 152
60 155
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2. Find the coefficient of correlation by the use of Pearson r and interpret

the results.
The table below shows the number of hours which a random
sample of 15 students studied for an examination and the scores
the students received.
X (no. of hours Y (score in the
studied) exam)
8 56
5 44
11 79
13 80
10 70
5 50
18 90
15 85
2 33
8 65
8 60
7 60
10 69
7 64
5 45

References

Bueno, David C. 2016. Introduction to Statistics. Concepts and

Applications in Research. Great Books Trading.

Bueno, David C. 2016. Introduction to Statistics (Concepts and

Applications in Research). Great Books Trading, Quezon City.

Febre, Francisco A. Jr. 2000. Introduction to Statistics. Phoenix

Publishing House.

Subong, Pablo E. 2005. Statistics for Research. Applications in

Research, Thesis and Dissertation Writing, and Statistical Data
Management Using SPSS Software. Rex Book Store,Inc.

DISCLAIMER

This module is prepared for instructional purposes only based on our course syllabus.
The teacher who prepared this does not claim ownership of this module but
patterned the ideas from different authors.
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