Which correlation coefficient should we use if we want to find out whether a relationship exists between scores from one interval variable and one ordinal variable?
A)The Pearson correlation coefficient
B)The Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
C)The point-biserial correlation coefficient
D)The nonlinear correlation coefficient

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient is the best choice when we want to find out whether a relationship exists between scores from one interval variable and one ordinal variable. This coefficient measures the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables by assessing the degree to which the relationship between the two variables can be described by a monotonic function. The Pearson correlation coefficient assumes that the relationship between two variables is linear, so it is not appropriate for interval-ordinal data. The point-biserial correlation coefficient is used when one variable is continuous and the other is dichotomous. The nonlinear correlation coefficient is used when the relationship between two variables is nonlinear.

Which Correlation Coefficient Should We Use If We Want to Find