SPSS Assignment 7: Correlations

Directions: Watch the Correlations PowerPoint and video. Complete the associated practice
exercise. If you need additional practice, complete the exercises in Research Methods, Statistics,
and Applications.

Read the entire assignment prior to starting.

Scenario: An environmental researcher working in Rural City A predicted that there is a

relationship between gas mileage and carbon footprint. He randomly selected 69 automobiles
that were being sold in the surrounding areas. He created a data set based on his research that
contained the highway mileage and its associated carbon footprint. He wanted to know if there
was a relationship between the mileage and the carbon footprint.

Use SPSS to conduct a correlation analysis and answer each of the following questions.
(Assume a nondirectional research hypothesis (two-tailed test) and a level of significance
of .05.) Round answers to two decimal places unless otherwise specified.

General

1. Why would a researcher use a correlation research design if it is not considered as strong
as other statistical study designs? (3 points)
The correlation research assists the buyer in determining the direction and strength of the
relationship between different variables. The statistical design is easier to interpret and
cost effective as compared to the other statistical tests.

2. What does a positive correlation mean? What does a negative correlation mean? (2
points)
A positive correlation means a relationship between two variables tend to more in a
similar direction.

Descriptive Statistics

1. What are the mean and standard deviation for gas mileage? (2 points)
M= 34.43
SD= 5.00
2. What are the mean and standard deviation for carbon footprint? (2 points)
M= 320.55
SD= 73.826
3. What kind of variables are gas mileage and carbon footprint? What is the scale of
measurement for each? (3 points)
 The gas mileage and carbon foot print is continuous variable. The scale measurement for
each variable is ratio variable.

Correlation
4. Generate a scatterplot of gas mileage and carbon footprint using the SPSS software.
Insert image of your scatterplot. Explain what the scatterplot shows. (3 points)

The scatter plot shows a strong negative correlation between the two continuous variables.

5. a. Write an appropriate null hypothesis for this analysis and scenario. (2 points)
There is no correlation between the high way mileage and carbon footprint (CO2/Mile)
b. Write a nondirectional research hypothesis for this analysis and scenario. (2 points)
The highway mileage has a similar direction with the carbon footprint (CO2/Mile)

6. Does this data set meet the assumptions for a correlation? Explain. (3 points)
Assumption #1.Data is measured t interval or ratio. The data meet the assumption
 Assumption #2.There is a linear relationship between two variables. The data set meets
the assumption.
7. What is the value of the correlation statistic representing the relationship between gas
mileage and carbon footprint? (do not round) (2 points)
r=-860
8. Based on the value of the statistic identified in the previous question, how would you
classify the strength of this relationship? (2 points)
There is a strong relationship between the two variables
9. Based on the value of the statistic identified in the previous question, how would you
interpret the direction of this relationship? (2 points)
The relationship shows a negative correlation. In this case, a rise in high way mileage
leads to a decrease in carbon footprint and vice versa.
10. What is the appropriate value for the degrees of freedom? (2 points)
Df=n-2=69-2=67
Df=67
11. What is the level of significance? (do not round) (2 points)
p=.000
12. Based on the level of significance and the fact that this is a two-tailed test, would you
reject the null hypothesis? Explain. How do you interpret the results? (3 points)
Based on the level of significance, reject the null hypothesis. There is a strong, negative
relationship between highway mileage and carbon footprint.
13. Compute the coefficient of determination to determine how much variability the carbon
footprint is explained by gas mileage. (2 points)
r=-.860
r2=0.74
74% of the variability in one can be illustrated by the difference in the other

Spearman’s Correlation
A Spearman’s Correlation is used when you have nonparametric data and you are looking for a
relationship between two variables. If you have two numeric variables that are not linearly
related, or if one or both of your variables are ordinal variables, you can still measure the
strength and direction of their relationship using a non-parametric correlation statistic. The most
common of these is the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, ρ, which considers the ranks of
the values for the two variables. For example, consider the lengths and weights of a sample of
five kittens:
Kitten Length (cm) Weight (g)
1 7.8 245
2 8.2 321
3 7.5 260
4 9.0 405
5 8.1 272
14. Create a scatterplot using SPSS. Insert an image of your scatterplot and describe it. (3
points)

15.

The Scatterplot illustrates a weak positive correlation

16. What is the null hypothesis for this scenario? (1 point)
H0: there is no monotonic relationship between the length and weight
17. Report the results of the Spearman’s Correlation test. (2 points)
rs(3)=.9,p=.037
18. Do you reject the null? What is your conclusion. (2 points)
Reject the null hypothesis, there is a strong monotonic relationship between length and
weight, which is statistically significant (rs(3) = .9, p = .037).