Correlation
Correlation
Correlation
Correlation analysis studies the relation between two variables. Correlation studies and
measures the direction and intensity of relationship among variables. Correlation measures
covariation and not causation.
Univariate distributions are those where observations are given on a single variable. We
obtained a measure of central tendency and a measure of dispersion of the set of values of the
variable.
Suppose we have observations on two variables, X and Y for several individuals. This is a
bivariate distribution. We can calculate the central value and dispersion of each variable
separately. However to know the association between the two variables we study the
correlation between the two.
Correlation between two variables X and Y mean that when the value of one variable is found
to change in one direction the value of the other variable is found to change either in the same
direction or in the opposite direction but in a definite way.
In the words of Croxton and Cowden ‘ when the relationship is of a quantitative nature, the
appropriate statistical tool for discovering and measuring the relationship and expressing it in
a brief formula is known as correlation.
IMPORTANCE OF CORRELATION
1. Measurement of relationship- the coefficient of correlation facilitates measurement of
extent of relationship between two variables. Eg bivariate distributions can be studied
2. Facilitates regression- when there is correlation between two variables the value of
one variable can be estimated given the value of another variable. Regression
equations can be used to find such values.
3. Facilitates decision making- decision making becomes feasible because the trend of
change in one variable resulting in change in the other variable can be studied and
important decisions can be made.
4. Formulation of policies- correlation analysis facilitates understanding of economic
behaviour because of existence of relationship between two or more variables and
helps in formulating and implementing certain policies.
TYPES OF CORRELATION
1. Perfect correlation
2. Absence of correlation
3. Limited degree of correlation
1. Perfect correlation is that where changes in two related variables are exactly
proportional. If equal proportion changes occur in the same direction then the
value is described as +1. If equal proportionate changes occur in the reverse
direction then the value is described as -1.
1. Scatter Diagram
2. Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation method
3. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient method
Merits
1. It is a simple and easy method to calculate coefficient of correlation
2. Suitable in case of qualitative distribution such as honesty, intelligence
3. Sometimes the correlation coefficient between two variables with
extreme values may be quite different from the coefficient without the
extreme values (simple correlation which is based on arithmetic mean
and standard deviation). Here the rank correlation provides a better
alternative to simple correlation.
Demerits
1. If there is a large number of observations the method is not suitable
2. This method has limited use when group frequency is given
3. This method ignores the actual magnitude of data and the results
are not exact because the effect of the actual values are not studied.
Line of best fit is the one that passes through the scattered points such that it represents most
of these points. Roughly half of the scattered points should be on either side of the line.
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