Linear Correlation
A correlation exists between two variables where one of the variables is related to the
other in some way. Linear correlation is when the relationship that exists between the
two variables is linear.
The degree of linear correlation is found by calculating the Pearson’s Correlation
Coefficient.
2 2 2 2
n xy x y
r
n x x n y y
Where x and y are the variables whose relationship is in question. The value of r will
always be between -1 and 1 inclusive.
Remember r is a measure of the strength of a linear association between two variables.
Example
Suppose the age and distance (to the nearest mile) moved was recorded for 25 adults
who moved to Phoenix from outside the state of Arizona. Is there a significant linear
correlation between the age of the adult and the distance moved?
Age
Distance
(mi.)
25 1852
37 1603
72 450
47 975
72 373
41 1336
59 586
32 282
59 202
37 1400
80 287
63 1801
80 1013
31 356
38 375
31 816
45 749
36 2367
45 2368
22 2721
45 2341
44 2455
48 1001
31 1725
48 1075
Let the ages be X and the distances be Y. To calculate the Correlation Coefficient make
a table.
X=Age Y=Distance (mi.)
X Y 2 X
2
Y
25 1852 46300 625 3429904
37 1603 59311 1369 2569609
72 450 32400 5184 202500
47 975 45825 2209 950625
72 373 26856 5184 139129
41 1336 54776 1681 1784896
59 586 34574 3481 343396
32 282 9024 1024 79524
59 202 11918 3481 40804
37 1400 51800 1369 1960000
80 287 22960 6400 82369
63 1801 113463 3969 3243601
80 1013 81040 6400 1026169
31 356 11036 961 126736
38 375 14250 1444 140625
31 816 25296 961 665856
45 749 33705 2025 561001
36 2367 85212 1296 5602689
45 2368 106560 2025 5607424
22 2721 59862 484 7403841
45 2341 105345 2025 5480281
44 2455 108020 1936 6027025
48 1001 48048 2304 1002001
31 1725 53475 961 2975625
48 1075 51600 2304 1155625
Sum 1168 30509 1292656 61102 52601255
We need a column for the X values, the Y values, X times Y, X squared, and Y squared.
Find the sum of each of these columns. Then these values are plugged into the formula.
2 2 2 2
2 2
25 1292656 1168 30509
25 61102 1168 25 52601255 30509
32316400 35634512
1527550 1364224 1315031375 930799081
3318112 33318112
163326 384232294 404.1361157 19601.84415
3318112
7
n xy x y
r
n x x n y y
r
r
r
r
.4188576447 .41886
921813.155
This is Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, but to determine if there is a significant linear
correlation present, we must have something to compare this to. Use the table of critical
values for Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
For a significance level of 0.05, the critical value for a sample size of 25 is .396.
If the absolute value of r is greater than the critical value from the table, then we
conclude there is significant linear correlation.
Since
.41886 .41886 .396
= the critical value for 0.05 level of significance at a
sample size of 25, then there is a significant linear correlation between the age and the
distance moved.
Coefficient of Determination
Can the correlation coefficient be used to explain the variation?
Yes, the Coefficient of Determination is the proportion of variation in Y that is explained
by the linear association between x and y.
The Coefficient of Determination is the square of the Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
2 Coefficeint of Determination r
Where r is the Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
Example
Suppose the age and distance moved was recorded for 25 adults who moved to
Phoenix from outside the state of Arizona. What proportion of variation in the distance
moved can be explained by the linear relationship between the distance moved and the
ages of those moving?
Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was calculated above to be
r .41886
The Coefficient of Determination is
2 2
r .41886 .17544
We can say that .17544 or 17.54% of the variation in the distance moved can be
explained by the linear relationship between the distance moved and the age of the
adult moving.
