Correlation Analysis Why do most students who are good in Mathematics also perform well in Physics? Why does blood pressure go with age? Why do students with high IQ have good academic performances? These questions have something to do with relationships between variables. In this lesson, we shall learn how to describe the relationship between two variables. Before we proceed, do this activity to prepare you for lesson.
Plot the following points on a rectangular coordinate
system.
A ( 2, 3 ) F ( 4, 2 ) B ( 4, 8 ) G ( 1, 6 ) C ( 6, 1 ) H ( 3, 5 ) D ( 7, 3 ) I ( 9, 4 ) E ( 5, 5 ) J ( 10, 5 ) So far we have analyzed data involving only a single variable – for instance, the grades of students, the weights of grocery products, and the lengths of rods. These data are called univariate data because they involve a single variable only. In this lesson we shall analyze data involving two variables. Data that involve two variables are called bivariate data. The analysis of bivariate data involves describing the relationship between two variables. The process or procedure of describing the relationship between two variables is called correlation analysis.
Describing Relationship Using a Scatter Plot
The relationship between two variables can be
described by constructing a scatter plot. A scatter plot is a graphical representation of the relationship between two variables. Example
A company with six branches provides free
coffee to its employees. A manager is interested to find out if there is a relationship between the number of cups of coffee provided and the number of employees in the offices. The table below shows the data needed. Determine if there is a relationship between the number of employees and the number of cups of coffee. Number of Number of Employees ( X ) Cups of Coffee ( Y ) 11 18 13 36 15 40 18 50 21 58 24 74 Notice that the points on the scatter plot do not lie on one line. However, the points closely follow a straight line. This line is called a trend line. The relationship between two variables is described in terms of strength and direction. Types of Correlation according to Direction.
In terms of direction, the
relationship between two variables may be positive, negative, or zero. Positive Correlation A positive correlation exist if high values in one variable are associated with high values in another variable. Similarly, low values in one variable are associated with low values in the other variable. If a positive correlation exists, then the points on the scatter plot closely follow a straight line slanting up to the right. Negative Correlation A negative correlation exist if high values in one variable are associated with high values in another variable. Similarly, low values in one variable are associated with low values in the other variable. If a negative correlation exists, then the points on the scatter plot closely follow a straight line slanting up to the left. Zero Correlation A zero correlation exists when high values in one variable are associated to either high or low values in the other variable. If a zero correlation exists, then the points on the scatter plot are randomly scattered. The points do not follow closely a straight line. Types of Correlation according to Strength
A perfect correlation exists when all
the points on the scatter plot lie on a straight line. When the points on the scatter plot do not lie on a straight line, the relationship may be very high, high, moderately high, low, negligible, or zero. Seatwork
The following data show the attitude scores and
Mathematics achievement of a group of students.
a. Construct a scatter plot for the given data.
b. Describe the relationship between attitude
and achievement in Mathematics in terms of direction and strength based on the scatter plot. Attitude Score (X) Achievement in Mathematics (Y)
