1.

Construct a scatter plot for the data obtained in a study on the number of
absences and the final grades of seven randomly selected students from a
statistics class and identify the type of relationship.

Student Number of absences x Final grade y (%)

A 6 82
B 2 86
C 15 43
D 9 74
E 12 58
F 5 90
G 8 78

Answer:
100
90
80
F 70
I
N 60
A
L 50
G 40
R
A 30
D
E 20
10
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Number of absences

 Based on the scatter plot of the data it suggests a strong negative relationship
between a student’s final grade and the number of absences a student has.
That is, the more absences a student has , the lower is his or her grade.
2. The number of calories and the number of milligrams of cholesterol for a random
sample of fast-food chicken sandwiches from seven restaurants are shown here.
Is there a relationship between the variables?
 Calories x 390 53 720 300 430 500 440
5
Cholesterol y 43 45 80 50 55 52 60

Answer:

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

X Y XY X2 Y2
390 43 16, 770 152, 100 1, 849
535 45 24, 075 286, 225 2, 025
720 80 57, 600 518, 400 6, 400
300 50 15, 000 90, 000 2, 500
430 55 23, 650 184, 900 3, 025
500 52 26, 000 250, 000 2, 704
440 60 26, 400 193, 600 3, 600
∑x = 3, 315 ∑y = 385 ∑xy = 189, 495 ∑x2 = 1, 675, 2
∑y = 22, 103
225
n ∑ xy−( ∑ x ) (∑ y )
R=
√¿¿¿

( 7 ) (189 , 495 )−( 3 , 315 ) (385)

= √¿¿¿

1,326 , 465−1,276,275
= √( 11,726,575−10,989,225 ) (154,721−148,225)
 50,190
= √( 737,350 ) ( 6496)

50,190
= √ 4,789,825,600

50,190
= 69,208.56594

= 0.72519925

= 0.73

 The value of r suggests an intermediate correlation between the

variables.

3. A researcher calculates the Pearson correlation coefficient and obtains  r = 0.68.

What does this mean?
Answer:
Labeling systems exist to roughly categorize r values where correlation
coefficients (in absolute value) which is 0.68 are generally considered to
represent strong or high correlations.

4. Search for a scholarly article that uses correlation analysis. Critique  the
methodology used in the article.

The article is a quantitative research study entitled as “Factors related to academic

success among nursing students: A descriptive correlational research study” by Samina
Iqbal Kanji that published in the year 2013. The problem described is important to
nursing because of a rapidly increasing nursing shortage threatens the health industry's
competency and quality of care provided by nursing staff. The significance of the
relationship between academic success and its effects on the replacement of existing
nursing staff has been critically examined by the researcher. The research's purpose
has been stated, and the study will achieve its purpose by providing insight into the
nursing education system, allowing for changes in curricula to improve outcomes.
Because prior knowledge of the variables has already been discussed with other
students, a quantitative approach is used to precede the level of inquiry because the
purpose is to know about the correlations. The research variables did not have an
explicit operational definition, but their correlation with academic success has been
established in other contexts. The study's limitations, such as sample bias, low
generalizability, and inconsistent results due to the spiritual component, have been
acknowledged by the researcher. Although no explicit assumptions were stated, it is
clear from the introduction that providing an answer to the factors affecting academic
success can help combat the effects of the nursing shortage in the long run.

To analyze the data, the researcher used descriptive statistics (means, standard
deviations, and percentages) as well as Pearson's correlation using PASW statistics 18.
Results from descriptive studies are analyzed using descriptive statistics, according to
Coughlan, Cronin, and Ryan (2007).In addition, according to Polit and Beck(2012),
correlation between two variables is described primarily through correlation procedures
and correlation coefficient. As a result, the methods of analysis are relevant for both the
level of inquiry and the research design. In this study, the level of measurement for all
variables is a quantitative ratio. As claimed by Polit and Beck (2012), Pearson's
correlation coefficient is used when the variable under study is measured at the interval
or ratio level.  The link between the data analysis and findings has been made clear
unambiguously by the researcher. Furthermore, the researcher has used Pearson
correlation(r) and p value to show the degree of relationship and statistical analysis for
each variable, and has described them all very clearly to show the logical relationship.
In some cases, researchers have gone beyond the data to interpret the results, such as
when measuring emotional intelligence and analyzing the differences in stressor types
between graduate and undergraduate students. The statistical result is presented very
well in the text, but the numerical presentation could have been improved by showing all
of the results and statistics together. The provided correlation coefficient and p value
results provide sufficient evidence of the results' correctness. The researcher did not
provide any graphical displays, but according to Polit and Beck(2012), correlation
relationships can be displayed using scatter plots.