Pearson correlation

coefficient
Dr. Emmanuel Ross B. Tomas
Pearson correlation coefficient
• Pearson correlation coefficient or Pearson’s
correlation coefficient or Pearson’s r is defined in
statistics as the measurement of the strength of
the relationship between two variables and their
association with each other.
 Pearson correlation coefficient formula

Where:
N = the number of pairs of scores
Σxy = the sum of the products of paired scores
Σx = the sum of x scores
Σy = the sum of y scores
Σx2 = the sum of squared x scores
Σy2 = the sum of squared y scores
Problem
• A 50 item test was given in the subjects Physics and Chemistry to the
same group of Grade 8 students. Determine the level of correlation of
the test results gathered. Refer to the data below.
Students Physics (x) Chemistry (y) xy x2 y2
1 34 31
2 42 47
3 21 29
4 14 18
5 35 37
6 42 39
Total ∑x = ∑y = ∑xy = ∑x2 = ∑y2 =
Problem
• A 50 item test was given in the subjects Physics and Chemistry to the
same group of Grade 8 students. Determine the level of correlation of
the test results gathered. Refer to the data below.
Students Physics (x) Chemistry (y) xy x2 y2
1 34 31 1054 1156 961
2 42 47 1974 1764 2209
3 21 29 609 441 841
4 14 18 252 196 324
5 35 37 1295 1225 1369
6 42 39 1638 1764 1521
Total ∑x = ∑y = ∑xy = ∑x2 = ∑y2 =
Problem
• A 50 item test was given in the subjects Physics and Chemistry to the
same group of Grade 8 students. Determine the level of correlation of
the test results gathered. Refer to the data below.
Students Physics (x) Chemistry (y) xy x2 y2
1 34 31 1054 1156 961
2 42 47 1974 1764 2209
3 21 29 609 441 841
4 14 18 252 196 324
5 35 37 1295 1225 1369
6 42 39 1638 1764 1521
Total ∑x = 188 ∑y = 201 ∑xy = 6822 ∑x2 ∑y2
= 6546 = 7225
 Pearson correlation coefficient formula

Studen Physics Chemistry xy x2 y2

ts (x) (y)

1 34 31 1054 1156 961

Given: 2 42 47 1974 1764 2209

3 21 29 609 441 841

• N=6
4 14 18 252 196 324
• ∑x = 188
• ∑y = 201 5 35 37 1295 1225 1369

• ∑xy = 6822 6 42 39 1638 1764 1521

• ∑x2 = 6546 Total ∑x = 188 ∑y = 201 ∑xy = ∑x2 ∑y2
• ∑y2= 7225 6822 = 6546 = 7225
 Pearson correlation coefficient formula
Given:
• N=6
• ∑x = 188
• ∑y = 201
• ∑xy = 6822
• ∑x2 = 6546
• ∑y2= 7225

r = 6(6822) – (188) (201)

[6(6546) – 1882 ] [6(7225) – 2012 ]

r = 40932 – 37788
[3932 ] [2949]

r = 3144
3405.211888

r = 0.9232905626 or 0.9233
 Size of Correlation
0.90 to 1.00 (-0.90 to -1.00)
0.70 to 0.89 (-0.70 to -0.89)
0.50 to 0.69 (-0.50 to -0.69)
0.30 to 0.49 (-0.30 to -0.49)
0.00 to 0.29 (-0.00 to -0.29)
Interpretation
Very high positive (negative) correlation
High positive (negative) correlation
Moderate positive (negative) correlation
Low positive (negative) correlation
Negligible correlation

Answer
r = 0.9233
**This means that the scores in Physics has a very high positive correlation
with the scores in Chemistry of the Grade 8 students. Further this indicates
that there is a strong tendency for students who perform well in Physics to
also perform well in Chemistry, and vice versa.
 Sample Problem
• A summative test was taken in the subjects Algebra and Literature to the same group of
BSE Math majors. Determine the level of correlation of the test results gathered. Refer to
the data below.
Students Algebra (x) Literature (y) xy x2 y2
1 34 50
2 43 24
3 15 39
4 12 45
5 40 30
6 23 44
7 25 28
8 46 45
9 17 29
Total ∑x = ∑y = ∑xy = ∑x2 = ∑y2 =