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Correlation LAST UPDATED: 21ST APRIL 2019

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When there is a linear relationship between two variables, there is said to be correlation.

Correlation Tests
Correlation
Evidence Based Medicine Correlation tests are used to evaluate the strength of a linear relationship between two variables measured in a single
FRCEM Success group, without making any implication about cause and e ect in that relationship.

The Pearson's correlation coe cient can be used if the values are sampled from normal populations, otherwise the non-
parametric equivalent, the Spearman's rank correlation coe cient, can be used.

If it is believed that the relationship between a dependent and an independent variable is nonlinear, it might be
necessary to transform the data using logarithms or square roots.

Correlation Coe cient

The strength of a relationship is given by the correlation coe cient (r), which can be between -1.0 and +1.0.

KEYWORDS A positive correlation coe cient means that the two variables are directly proportional e.g. height and weight in healthy
Correlation Correlation Coe cient growing children.

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Evidence Based Medicine
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A negative correlation coe cient means that the two variables are inversely proportional e.g. socio-economic class and
mortality.
Statistics
If there is a perfect relationship between the two variables, then r = 1 (+ or -). The closer that r is to 1, the greater the
strength of correlation (and the closer the points are to a straight line).
If there is no correlation between two variables, then r = 0. The closer that r is to 0, the weaker the correlation.

Generally:

r = 0 - 0.2: very low correlation (probably meaningless)

r = 0.2 - 0.4: low correlation (might warrant further investigation)
r = 0.4 - 0.6: reasonable correlation
r = 0.6 - 0.8: high correlation
r = 0.8 - 1.0: very high correlation (check for errors or other reasons for such high correlation)

The square of the correlation coe cient (r2 )is the coe cient of determination, an estimate of the percentage variation
in one variable that is explained by the other variable. This is useful when interpreting clinical relevance.

CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS. (IMAGE BY KIATDD (OWN WORK) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (HTTP://CR EATIVECOMMONS .ORG/LICENS ES/BY-

SA/3.0)], VIA WIKIMEDIA CO MMO NS)