A researcher collects scores for male and female students and scores running from a 50 to a 99 on a math final test.This researcher is interested in correlating these scores to determine if there is an association between gender and test scores.What correlation statistic would this researcher use?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Point-biserial correlation is the appropriate correlation statistic to use when one variable is dichotomous (in this case, gender) and the other variable is continuous (scores on the math test). Pearson correlation would be appropriate if both variables were continuous, Phi-coefficient would be appropriate if both variables were dichotomous, and regression statistic would be appropriate if the researcher wanted to predict scores on the math test based on gender.

A Researcher Collects Scores for Male and Female Students and Scores