Pearson Correlation Coefficient – Guide & Examples

The best and most common method for measuring a linear correlation is calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. This approach in statistics provides a significant formula in the field of experimental research. This article will account for the various types, how to calculate them, and the significant test. Furthermore, this guide will provide an in-depth understanding of using this method and give respective examples for visualization and clarity.

Definition: Pearson correlation coefficient

The Pearson correlation coefficient is an expressive statistic that measures the strength between diverse variables and how they relate. In simpler terms, it recaps the features of a dataset. The Pearson correlation coefficient is also known as:

• Bivariate correlation
• The correlation coefficient
• Pearson’s r
• (PPMCC) Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient

Its formula is as follows:

Types of Pearson correlation coefficients

The Pearson correlation coefficient is a digit between -1 and 1 that calculates the strength and course of the affiliation between two variables. The table below provides a vivid explanation.

The effect size (relationship strength) interpretation may vary depending on the discipline. However, the following standard rules still apply.

Besides descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation coefficient can also be used for testing statistical hypotheses because it is an inferential statistic.

Visualizing the Pearson correlation coefficient

You can visualize Pearson’s r as a measure of how close the observations in experimental research are to a line of best fit. Also, it tells you whether the slope of the line of best fit is positive or negative.

Pearson correlation coefficient vs. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients

Besides the Pearson correlation coefficient, another popular correlation coefficient is Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

It is a go-to method when at least one of the following characteristics is true:

• The variables are ordinal
• The variables are not distributed normally
• The data features outliers
• The variables have a non-linear or monotone relationship

Calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient

While the formula is easy to use, you can apply software tools like R or Excel to help you calculate the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Step 1: Calculating the sums of x and y

The first step is renaming the variables from weight and length to and . Next, add up all the  and values as indicated in the formula by the symbol (take the sum of).

Step 2: Calculating x² and y² and the respective sums

Next, create two new columns containing the squares of the values in  and . Then, calculate the sums of the new columns.

Step 3: Calculating the cross product and its sum

Finally, create a column with the products of x and y and name it the cross product. Then, calculate the sum of the new column.

Step 4: Calculating Pearson correlation coefficient r

Use the formula above and the figures for each section to calculate the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Pearson correlation coefficient: Significance test

You can use the Pearson correlation coefficient to test if the relationship between two variables is significant.

For instance, if the Pearson correlation coefficient of the sample is r, then it is an estimate of rho, which is the correlation of the population. Therefore, determining the r and n (sample size) can help deduce if the rho is meaningfully different from 0.

• Null hypothesis
• Alternative hypothesis

You can use tools like the R or Strata software to test the hypothesis. Alternatively, you can follow these three steps:

Step 1: Calculating the t value

Calculating the t value is as easy as the following formula:

Step 2: Finding the critical value of t

You can find the t in a table that will need the following facts:

• The degree of freedom (df) (calculated using the formula: ()
• Significance level α: Which is usually 0.05
• One-tailed or two-tailed: Two-tailed is the right option for correlations

Step 3: Comparing the t value to the critical value

Then, determine if the absolute t value is greater than the critical value. Note that “absolute” implies that you should disregard the minus sign if the t value is negative.

Step 4: Deciding whether to reject the null hypothesis

• If the t value is larger than , the relationship is significant (p ˂ α). This information allows you to reject the null hypothesis and support the alternative hypothesis.
• If the t value is less than , the relationship is insignificant (p ˃ α). This does not allow you to reject the null hypothesis or support the alternative hypothesis.

Pearson correlation coefficient in a thesis

The Pearson correlation coefficient usually comes up in the results section of an academic paper or thesis. Apply the rules below if you want to report in APA style:

• No need for a reference
• Italicize r
• Include a leading zero before the decimal point
• Provide two significant digits after the decimal point