Dichotomous Variables & Correlation

[Lee-115]

I have 2 dichotomous variables and a scale variable, which correlation is
the most appropriate?

Tks
L

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[SR Millis-3]

For the continuous and dichotomous variables: point-biserial correlation, which is a special case of Pearson's r.

For two dichotomous variables: phi correlation, which is another special case of Pearson's r.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Scott R Millis, PhD, ABPP, CStat, CSci
Professor & Director of Research
Dept of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dept of Emergency Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine
261 Mack Blvd
Detroit, MI 48201
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--- On Wed, 5/12/10, Lee <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Lee <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Dichotomous Variables & Correlation
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 2:54 PM
> I have 2 dichotomous variables and a
> scale variable, which correlation is
> the most appropriate?
>
> Tks
> L
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
> [hidden email]
> (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
> command. To leave the list, send the command
> SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
> For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the
> command
> INFO REFCARD
>

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[statisticsdoc]

Lee,
Phi for dichotomous by dichotomous.  Point biserial for dichotomous by scale (unless your scale is badly skewed, or is actually an ordinal measure, in which case you would want to look into non parametric alternatives like the U test),
Best,
Steve
------Original Message------
From: Lee
Sender: SPSSX(r) Discussion
To: [hidden email]
ReplyTo: Lee
Subject: Dichotomous Variables & Correlation
Sent: May 12, 2010 2:54 PM

I have 2 dichotomous variables and a scale variable, which correlation is
the most appropriate?

Tks
L

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