Spearman’s Coefficient of Rank

2
Correlation, rs
1
4
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

By :
Dr.Wan Azlinda Binti Wan Mohamed
 Spearman’s rank-order correlation
coefficient
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

• The correlation coefficient is used when

1
2
ordinal (ranking) scale

4
• Describes the linear relationship between
two variables measured using ranked scores
• Symbol used rs (The subscript s stands for
Spearman; Charles Spearman invented this
one)
 Computational Formula for the
Spearman Rank-Order Correlation
Coefficient is:
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

2
Rs = 1 – 6(ΣD2)

1
-----------

4
N (N2 -1)

N is the number of pair ranks

1. Determine the difference between the

2
ranks for each subjects

1
2. Square each difference and sum them

4
3. Calculate the rho statistics.
4. Compare the obtained rho value with the
critical value
 Summary of the Spearman Rank-
Order Correlation Test
• Hypotheses:
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011
H0 : Rho = 0
Ha : Rho ≠ 0, or Rho < 0, or Rho > 0
Assumptiojns:

1
2
Subjects are randomly selected
Observations are ranked order

4
Decision Rules:
n = number of pairs of ranks
If rhoobt ≥ rhocrit, reject H0
If rhoobt < rhocrit, do not reject H0
Formula
rho = 1 – 6(ΣD2)
n (n2 -1)
 Sample data
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Participant Observer A: X Observer B: Y

2
1 4 3

1
2 1 2
3 9 8

4
4 8 6
5 3 5
6 5 4
7 6 7
8 2 1
9 7 9
 Solution
0 0 1 1 Participant
0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0Observer
1 0 0 0 1 0A:1 0X0 1Observer
011 B: Y D D2
1 4 3 1 1
2 1 2 -1 1

1
2
3 9 8 1 1

4
4 8 6 2 4
5 3 5 -2 4
6 5 4 1 1
7 6 7 -1 1
8 2 1 1 1
9 7 9 -2 4

ΣD2=18
 Solution
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Rs = 1 – 6(ΣD2)
-----------

1
2
N (N2 -1)

4
= 1 – (6(18))
----------
9 (92 -1)
= 1 - ((108)/720)
= 1 – 0.15
= + .85
 What does the value of rs tell you?
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

• Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient is actually derived

2
that:

1
-1≤ rs ≤1

4
• rs = 0.85 Means that a child receiving a particular ranking
from one observer tended to receive very close to the same
ranking from other observer
• rs = +1 means the ranking is in complete agreement
• rs = 0 means that there is no correlation between the
rankings
• rs = -1 means that the ranking are in complete
disagreement. In fact they are in exact reverse order.
 Exercise:
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

• The marks of eight candidates in English and

1
2
Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

4
English (x) 50 58 35 86 76 43 40 60
Maths (y) 65 72 54 82 32 74 40 53

• Rank the results and hence find Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient
between the two sets of marks. Comment on the value obtained,
 Solution
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

English 50 58 35 86 76 43 40 60
(x)

1
2
Maths 65 72 54 82 32 74 40 53
(y)

4
Rank x 4 5 1 8 7 3 2 6

Rank y 5 6 4 8 1 7 2 3

D -1 -1 -3 0 6 -4 0 3

D2 1 1 9 0 36 16 0 9 D2=
72
 Solution
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Rs = 1 – 6(ΣD2)
-----------

1
2
N (N2 -1)

4
• Spearman’s coefficient of
= 1 – (6(72)) rank correlation is 0.142
---------- • This appears to show a
8 (82 -1) very weak positive
correlation between the
= 1 - ((432)/504)
English and Mathematics
= 1 – 0.857 ranking
= .142
 Tied Ranks
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

• A tied rank occurs when two participants receive

1
2
person are tied for first on variable x)
• Tied ranks result in an incorrect value of rs

4
• Resolve (correct) any tied ranks before computing
rs
• Therefore, for each participant at a tied rank,
assign the mean of the ranks that would have been
used had there not been a tie
 Example
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Runner Race X Race Y To resolve ties New Y

2
A 4 1 Tie uses ranks 1 1.5

1
and 2, becomes 1.5

4
B 3 1 Tie uses ranks 1 1.5
and 2, becomes 1.5
C 2 2 Becomes 3rd 3

D 1 3 Becomes 4th 4
 Example
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Runner Race X New Y D D2

2
A 4 1.5 2.5 6.25

1
4
B 3 1.5 1.5 2.25

C 2 3 -1 1

D 1 4 -3 9

D2= 18.5
 Solution
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Rs = 1 – 6(ΣD2)
-----------

1
2
N (N2 -1)

4
= 1 – (6(18.5))
----------
4 (42 -1)
= 1 - ((111)/60)
= 1 – 1.85
= - .85
0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

1
2
Thank You