The Spearman rank order correlation coefficient differs from the Pearson correlation coefficient in that the Spearman rank order correlation:
A) primarily establishes a weak association between variables, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficient establishes a strong association between variables.
B) is used when variables have been measured using ordinal scales, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficient is used when variables have been measured using ratio scales.
C) assumes that variables have a normally distributed population, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficient assumes that variables have a uniform distribution.
D) is used for linear relationships, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficient is used for curvilinear relationships.
E) is a qualitative measure of the degree of variation, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficient is a quantitative measure of the degree of variation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Spearman rank order correlation coefficient is based on the ranks of the observations and can be used when variables have been measured using ordinal scales. In contrast, the Pearson correlation coefficient is based on the actual values of the observations and is used when variables have been measured using ratio scales. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because both correlation coefficients can establish weak or strong associations, depending on the data. Option C is incorrect because neither correlation coefficient assumes a specific type of population distribution. Option D is incorrect because both correlation coefficients can be used for both linear and curvilinear relationships. Option E is incorrect because both correlation coefficients are quantitative measures of the degree of variation.

The Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient Differs from the Pearson