Statistical Tests:

Correlation / Association

Lecture Handouts
St. Luke’s College of Nursing
SY. 2017 - 2018
 Statistical Tests
Level of Measurement
Interval /
Ordinal Nominal
Ratio
Describe one
Mean, SD Median, IQR Proportion
group
Compare one
One-
group to a Wilcoxon Binomial
sample
hypothetical test test
t-test
value
Compare two Unpaired Mann-
Chi-square
unpaired groups t-test whitney test
Compared two Paired Wilcoxon McNemar’s
paired groups t-test test test
 Statistical Tests
Level of Measurement
Interval /
Ordinal Nominal
Ratio
Compare three or
One-way Kruskal-
more unmatched Chi-square
ANOVA Wallis test
groups
Compare three or Repeated
Friedman
more matched measures Cochrane Q
test
groups ANOVA
Determine the Pearson Chi-square test
correlation / Correlation, of Association,
Spearman
association Relative Risk,
Correlation
Linear Logistic
regression Regression
CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS
 CORRELATION
It is a bivariate measure of association
(strength) of the relationship between two
variables.
Bivariate – analysis that involves two variables
– represented by x and y

It is graphically done using a scatter plot

DIAGRAM

The measurement of the strength of

association is called correlation coefficient (r)
 CORRELATION
Sample Problem: Researchers are interested in
determining if there is a relationship between
death anxiety and religiosity. (n = 8)

Sample
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
 Sample
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
16 #7
14
12 #3
10 #8
Variable y
8 #5
y-axis
6
#6
4 #4
2 #1
#2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Variable x
X-axis
 Properties of Correlation
Coefficient (r)

1. The value of r will range from -1.00 to 1.00 only

2. The nearer the r to 1 or -1, the stronger is the linear

relationship. Linear direction of relationship:
Direct - positive r
Inverse - negative r

3. If r = 0, there is no linear relationship.

Strength of Linear Relationship:
Direct
1 Perfect linear relationship

Strong/High relationship (0.80 to 0.99)

P
0.8 O
S
I
0.5 Moderate relationship (0.40 to 0.79)
T
I
V
0.3 E
Weak/Low relationship (0.01 to 0.39)

0 No linear relationship
Strength of Linear Relationship:
Inverse
0 No linear relationship

Weak/Low relationship (-0.39 to -0.01)

N
-0.3 E
G
A
-0.5 Moderate relationship (-0.79 to -0.40) T
I
V
-0.8 E
Strong/High relationship (-0.99 to -0.80)

-1 Perfect linear relationship

 Strength of Linear Association
Example:

r = 0.95 r = - 0.95
Positive (Direct) Correlation Negative (Indirect) Correlation
Strength of Linear Association
Strength of Linear Association
P
O
S
I
T
I
V
E

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E
 What Correlational Analysis to use

Ratio /
Nominal Ordinal
Interval

Chi Square Spearman's Pearson's

test of Asso. Rank
 Reading Correlation Matrix
Example:
Level of Measurement – Ratio
Variable 1 – Noise Level of train stations
Variable 2 – Stress Tolerance Score

r = -0.200
p = 0.046
n = 100

Study by Manalo et al. (2016).

Undergrad Thesis. TUA-SLCN
 Reading Correlation Matrix
Correlation analysis must pass the level
of significance (α = 0.05) using the p-
value.

Non significant correlation means

“insufficient evidence”

r = -0.200
p = 0.046
n = 100

Study by Manalo et al. (2016).

Undergrad Thesis. TUA-SLCN
 Reading Correlation Matrix
Interpretation:
“There is a low inverse correlation
between noise level and stress
tolerance of mothers living nearby a
train station.”

r = -0.200
p = 0.046
n = 100

Study by Manalo et al. (2016).

Undergrad Thesis. TUA-SLCN
SPSS Output:
Statistically significant Correlations are flagged by an
(*) asterisk
One asterisk (*) means the result is significant at
α = 0.05 level
Two asterisk (**) implies that the result is
significant at α = 0.01 level.
Correlations

Exam
Time Spent Performance
Revising (%) Exam Anxiety
Time Spent Revising Pearson Correlation 1 .397** -.709**
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000
N 103 103 103
Exam Performance (%) Pearson Correlation .397** 1 -.441**
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000
N 103 103 103
Exam Anxiety Pearson Correlation -.709** -.441** 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000
N 103 103 103
**. Correlation is s ignific ant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
 Level of Significance
p-value Interpretation
above 0.10 Not statistically significant
between 0.09 to 0.05 Slightly Significant
between 0.04 to 0.01 Significant
below 0.01 Highly Significant

Therefore, a p-value of below 0.05 is the desired

outcome to conclude that analysis of data is
statistically significant.
 Hypothesis Testing: Steps
1. State the null and alternative Hypothesis

2. State the level of significance:

α = 0.05
α = 0.01

3. Analyze: p-value (SPSS)

4. Make a statistical Decision

5. Interpret
 Hypothesis Testing: Pearson
Study #1:
In a research done in Santo santo Medical
Center, the MD residency training officer
was interested to know if there is an
association between the training scores of
the trainees and the satisfaction rating of
their patients.
 Hypothesis Testing: Pearson
Step 1
H0: r = 0
“there is no linear relationship between scores of
MD trainees and patient satisfaction rating.”

Ha: r ≠ 0
“there is a linear relationship between scores of
MD trainees and patient satisfaction rating.”

Step 2
Level of Significance: α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Pearson
Step 3 : p-value

75 75

75 75
 Hypothesis Testing: Pearson
Step 4

Probability Value (p-value) Decision

Level of
α = 0.05
Significance REJECT the H0
p-value 0.007
The p-value 0.007 is less than α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Pearson
Step 5

Interpretation:
“There is a strong direct relationship
between the MD resident trainees of Santo
santo Medical Center and its patient
satisfaction rating.”
 Hypothesis Testing: Spearman’s
Rank
Study #2:
A premiere school of Public Health studied
about the relationship of socio-economic
status (low, middle, high) of each
household and levels of anxiety of the
household head (mild, moderate, severe,
panic) in Brgy. Paskuhan.
 Hypothesis Testing: Spearman’s
Rank
Step 1
H0: r=0
“there is no linear relationship between household SES
and the level of anxiety of the household head.”

Ha: r≠0
“there is a linear relationship between household SES
and the level of anxiety of the household head”

Step 2
Level of Significance: α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Spearman’s
Rank
Step 3 : p-value

SES

311 311

SES
311 311
 Hypothesis Testing: Spearman’s
Rank
Step 4

Probability Value (p-value) Decision

Level of
α = 0.05 DO NOT
Significance
REJECT the H0
p-value 0.285
The p-value 0.285 is greater than α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Spearman’s
Rank
Step 5

Interpretation:
“There is no sufficient data to conclude
that there is a linear relationship between
socioeconomic status and level of anxiety
of the household head in Brgy. Paskuhan.”
 Chi Square (χ2)
The chi-square test of association is used
to test for the existence of a relationship or
association between two nominal variables.

Unlike pearson and spearman, chi square

has no determination for the strength of
correlation.

Has no scatterplot graphical presentation

 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Study #3:
A veterinary organization in the Philippines
wants to know if there is an association on
pneumonia among elderlies and owning a
pet.

Variable (+) (-)

Pneumonia Diagnosed Not Diagnosed
Owning pet With Without
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 1
H0: “there is no association/relationship
between owning a pet and elderly
pneumonia.”

Ha: “there is association/relationship between

owning a pet and elderly pneumonia.”

Step 2
Level of Significance: α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 3 : p-value
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 3 : p-value
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 3 : p-value
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 3 : p-value
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 4

Probability Value (p-value) Decision

Level of
α = 0.05
Significance REJECT the H0
p-value 0.001
The p-value 0.001 is less than α = 0.05
 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square
test of Association
Step 5

Interpretation:
“There is an association/relationship
between elderly pneumonia and owning a
pet.”
 General Considerations
Correlational studies…

never assume Causation (Cause and Effect Relationship)

the value of r does not dictate the acceptance of the

findings, in other words:
a linear correlation is not an indicator that the findings
are significant;
a zero/no correlation is not an indicator that the
findings are not significant; and
p-value and α are used to determine significance

are usually the first study to be done before doing a

more advance form of study (e.g. experimental)
Other Correlational Analysis
 Other References
Lecture presentation on Correlational Analysis for Biostatistics
by H. Ho, 2010.

Lecture notes on Test of Hypothesis for Homogeneity &

Association for Biostatistics 201, Department of Epidemiology
and Biostatistics, UP Manila College of Public Health, 2013.

Lecture notes on Correlation Analysis for Biostatistics 201,

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UP Manila
College of Public Health, 2013.

Lecture notes on Data Processing and Analysis for Biostatistics

206 by E. Estrella, Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, UP Manila College of Public Health, 2013.