Chapter 7

Linear Correlation
 Linear Correlation

Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
(Interval/Ratio) (Interval/Ratio)
 Linear Correlation
Test of relationship between two variables
which are quantitative in nature.

Relationship between Independent variable

(X) and Dependent variable (Y).

Where: X- interval/ratio scale

Y- interval/ ratio scale
Statistical Tests for Strength of Relationship
Between Two Quantitative Variables
Pearson product moment correlation coefficient
r or Pearson’s r
- estimates both the direction and strength of
correlation between two interval/ratio variables
 To determine the strength of relationship
between variable X and variable Y
r - indicates the strength of linear relationship
between the variables
- the extent to which a rstraight line fits the data
2

points
-1.0  r  1.0
 Correlation Coefficient “r”
Values of r Interpretation
0.0 No relationship
+ 0.01 to + 0.20 Indifferent/ Negligible
relationship
+ 0 .21 to + 0.40 Low correlation
+ 0. 41 to + 0.60 Substantial/ Marked
correlation
+ 0. 61 to + 0.80 High correlation
+ 0 .81 to + 0.99 Very high correlation
+ 1.0 Perfect Correlation
Directions of Relationship ( + or - )
+ r – There exists a direct relationship between
Variable X and Variable Y.
- As Variable X increases, Variable Y also increases
- As Variable X decreases, Variable Y also decreases

- r - There exists an inverse relationship between

Variable X and Variable Y
- As Variable X increases, Variable Y decreases
- As Variable X decreases, Variable Y increases
To determine if the relationship between
variable X and variable Y is significant or not
p - significance value
- indicates whether the relationship between the
variables is significant or not

α – value = 0.05
If p- value is less than α , then reject Ho
If p-value is greater than α -value, do not reject
Ho
 Example 1
Respondents Variable X Variable Y
1 2 10
2 3 15
3 4 20
4 5 25
5 6 30
6 7 35
Research Paradigm

Variable X Variable Y
Objectives:
To determine if there is a significant relationship
between variable X and variable Y.

Ho: There is no significant relationship (or

correlation) between variable X and variable Y.

Ha: There is a significant relationship between

variable X and variable Y.
 SPSS Output on the relationship between
variable X and variable Y
Variable X Variable Y
Variable X Pearson Correlation 1 1.000
Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000
N 6 6
Variable Y Pearson Correlation 1.000 1
Sig (2-tailed) 0.000
N 6 6
 Results and Interpretation
(p = 0.000) is less than (=.05) : Reject Ho
Conclusion: (Ha) There is a significant relationship
between variable X and variable Y

r = + 1.00 --- There is a (direct, perfect correlation)

between variable X and variable Y .
 Statistical Conclusion
There is a significant relationship (direct
and perfect correlation) between variable X
and variable Y.
 Research Conclusion
Variable X affects Variable Y.

As X increases Y also increases.

 Example 2
Students Age Numbers of sticks of
Cigarettes smoked
daily
1 16 6
2 17 8
3 19 8
4 19 10
5 20 12
6 21 13
7 18 7
Objective:
 To determine if there is a significant
relationship between the age of students and
the number of sticks of cigarettes they
smoked.
Ho: There is no significant relationship
between the age of students and the number
of sticks of cigarettes they smoked.
Ha: There is a significant relationship
between the age of students and the number
of sticks of cigarettes they smoked.
 SPSS Output on the relationship between
variable X and variable Y
Age Number of
sticks of
cigarettes
Age Pearson Correlation 1 0.908
Sig. (2-tailed) 0.005
N 7 7
No. of sticks Pearson Correlation 0.908 1
of cigarettes
Sig (2-tailed) 0.005
N 7 7
 Results and Interpretation
p = 0.005 is less than (=.05) : Reject Ho
Conclusion: (Ha) There is a significant
relationship
between the two variables .

r = +0.908 --- There is a (direct, very high

correlation )between the two variables
 Statistical Conclusion
There is a significant relationship (direct
and very high correlation) between the age
of students and the number of sticks of
cigarettes they smoked.
 Research Conclusion
Older respondents tend to smoke more sticks of
cigarettes compared to younger respondents.

Number of sticks of cigarettes smoked increases

with age.
 Example 3
Respondents Mean number of Reading Test scores
hours of TV
viewing/day
1 2 75
2 2 78
3 4 72
4 6 60
5 3 76
6 1 85
7 5 55
Objective:
 To determine if there is a significant
relationship between the reading test scores
and the number of hours spent in watching
TV.
Ho: There is no significant relationship
between the reading test scores and the
number of hours spent in watching TV.
Ha: There is a significant relationship
between the reading test scores and the
number of hours spent in watching TV.
 Relationship between Time spent watching TV
and Reading test score
Time spent Reading Test
watching TV Scores

Time spent Pearson 1 -0.918

Correlation
Watching TV
Sig. (2-tailed) 0.003
N 7 7
Reading test Pearson Correlation -0.918 1
scores
Sig (2-tailed) 0.003
N 7 7
 Results and Interpretation
p = 0.003 is less than (=.05) : Reject Ho
Conclusion: (Ha) There is a significant
relationship between watching TV and reading
scores.

r = -0.918 --- There is an (inverse, very high

correlation )between the two variables .

 Statistical Conclusion
There is a significant relationship (inverse
and very high correlation) between the
reading test scores of students and the
number of hours spent in watching TV.
 Research Conclusion
The time spent in watching TV affects the
reading performance of the students.

The more time spent in watching TV, the lower

the reading test score.

Increasing the number of hours in watching

TV will significantly result to lower reading test
score.
 Check your progress
 Determine if there is an association between time spend in using
electronic mass media and academic performance of students.
Utilization Performance
Pearson’s r 1.0 -0.76
Utilization
Sig. 0.002
n 56
Pearson’s r -0.76 1.0
Performance
Sig. 0.002
n 56

 Formulate the null and alternative hypothesis.

 Is the result significant at 5% level of significance?
 Interpret the strength of relationship.
 State your research conclusion.
End of Chapter 7
Thank you!!!