When teachers and educational researchers wish to explore/establish if two phenomena or variables are related, they use what is known as correlational technique.
Creating graphs and computing for correlation coefficients are frequenly done in such research projects.
The scattergram or scatter plot (or simply scatter) is the graph that is used in correlational studies.
Click the provided links to review how to interpret scatter plots.
- scatter plots and correlation
- correlation demo
- MyMath's lesson on scatter graphs
Want to create your own scatter plot? Click here.
Please note that NOT all relationships are linear. Click here for scattergrams illustrating nonlinear relationship.
The most popular correlation coefficient is the Pearson’s r.
Please take note that one of the assumptions of Pearson’s r is linearity and there are variables that may have nonlinear relationship.
Another assumption is level of measurement. But when doing item analysis, sometimes, the only information is binary in nature (e.g., right or wrong answer, passed or failed the test, etc) Such data are definitely lower than interval level. We can use point biserial correlation coefficient or phi coefficient, both “descendants” of the Pearson’s r.
Click here to review the alternatives to Pearson's r when its assumptions could not be satisfied.
Additional Links (you might find some useful when you’re already teaching)
- Using MS-Excel to create a scattergram, compute for Pearson's r
- Computing for Pearson's r, point-biserial r, phi coefficient
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