In statistics, the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), also referred to as Pearson's r, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC), or the bivariate correlation, is a measure of linear correlation between two sets of data. It is the covariance of two variables, divided by the product of their standard deviations; thus it is essentially a normalised measurement of the covariance, such that the result always has a value between −1 and 1.
The Pearson's correlation coefficient varies between -1 and +1 where:
- r = 1 means the data is perfectly linear with a positive slope ( i.e., both variables tend to change in the same direction)
- r = -1 means the data is perfectly linear with a negative slope ( i.e., both variables tend to change in different directions)
- r = 0 means there is no linear association
- r > 0 < 5 means there is a weak association
- r > 5 < 8 means there is a moderate association
- r > 8 means there is a strong association
Pearson r Formula
Here,
=correlation coefficient
=values of the x-variable in a sample
=mean of the values of the x-variable
=values of the y-variable in a sample
=mean of the values of the y-variable
Comments