Question

The correlation coefficient r is a sample statistic. What does it tell us about the value of the population correlation coefficient ρ (Greek letter rho)? You do not know how to build the formal structure of hypothesis tests of ρ yet. However, there is a quick way to determine if the sample evidence based on ρ is strong enough to conclude that there is some population correlation between the variables. In other words, we can use the value of r to determine if ρ ≠ 0. We do this by comparing the value |r| to an entry in the correlation table. The value of α in the table gives us the probability of concluding that ρ ≠ 0 when, in fact, ρ = 0 and there is no population correlation. We have two choices for α: α = 0.05 or α = 0.01.

(a) Look at the data below regarding the variables x = age of a Shetland pony and y = weight of that pony. Is the value of |r| large enough to conclude that weight and age of Shetland ponies are correlated? Use α = 0.05. (Use 3 decimal places.)

x	3	6	12	23	21
y	60	95	140	176	184

r
critical r

Conclusion

Reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that age and weight of Shetland ponies are correlated.

Reject the null hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence to show that age and weight of Shetland ponies are correlated.   

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence to show that age and weight of Shetland ponies are correlated.

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that age and weight of Shetland ponies are correlated.

(b) Look at the data below regarding the variables x = lowest barometric pressure as a cyclone approaches and y = maximum wind speed of the cyclone. Is the value of |r| large enough to conclude that lowest barometric pressure and wind speed of a cyclone are correlated? Use α = 0.01. (Use 3 decimal places.)

x	1004	975	992	935	986	940
y	40	100	65	145	71	153

r
critical r

Conclusion

Reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that lowest barometric pressure and maximum wind speed for cyclones are correlated.

Reject the null hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence to show that lowest barometric pressure and maximum wind speed for cyclones are correlated.    

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence to show that lowest barometric pressure and maximum wind speed for cyclones are correlated.

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that lowest barometric pressure and maximum wind speed for cyclones are correlated.

Answer 1

a)

Computational table:

Hypothesis:

   ...... (No linear correlation)

      .. (linear correlation)

Degrees of Freedom = n-2 = 5-2 = 3

Test statistic:

Critical value:

Conclusion:

Test statistic > Critical value, i.e. 7.16 > 3.18, that is Reject Ho at 5% level of significance

ANSWER: A

A. Reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that age and weight of Shetland ponies are correlated.

b)

Computational table:

Hypothesis:

   ...... (No linear correlation)

      .. (linear correlation)

Degrees of Freedom = n-2 = 6-2 = 4

Test statistic:

Critical value

:       ..................Using t table

Conclusion:

|Test statistic| > Critical value, i.e. 12.88 > 4.6041, that is Reject Ho at 1% level of significance

ANSWER: A

A. Reject the null hypothesis, there is sufficient evidence to show that lowest barometric pressure and maximum wind speed for cyclones are correlated.