This page, created by Mark Plonsky of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, gives a description of correlation, specifically Pearson's r and Spearman's rho. The page is a strong complement to a lecture or text material on correlation.
Type of Material:
Reference Material (site also includes links to practice problems and homework)
Recommended Uses:
The site is best used as an instructional supplement for out-of-class activities. It is a good tutorial for students who need additional assistance and would be useful for review and practice.
It would be relevant for face-to-face or online courses.
Technical Requirements:
Two reviewers successfully accessed the site with Firefox, Edge, and Chrome. There are no additional technical requirements.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Students will learn what a correlation is, how to calculate it, and its value in research/statistics.
Target Student Population:
The site targets undergraduate students who are new to statistics; it also may be relevant to graduate students with no statistical background.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
No prerequisite knowledge is needed; however, formulas are easier to understand and follow with a basic math understanding (as well as an understanding of mathematical notations). A basic understanding of the concept of correlation would be helpful.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
• The site clearly explains and provides examples of key topics associated with correlation including relationships, direction, and strength. Graphs and formulae support and further explain the examples.
• The site is a strong complement to a text chapter on correlation or a lecture. It provides several examples (Pearson and Spearman) along with a clear outline. The site also includes links to practice problems (with answers) and homework assignments.
• Information is clear, concise, direct and easy to understand. Text descriptions are supplemented with visual diagrams. All instructional information is on a single page.
Concerns:
• The site is clearly designed for a target class; assignments and activities refer to the specifics of the class.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
• In addition to text/visual tutorial information, the site includes a link to practice problems (along with a separate link to the answers) and homework activities. All information is accurate and targeted. Information is presented at a level appropriate for students new to statistics.
• This site provides a brief overview of a basic topic that requires attention and practice. While it includes formulae in the examples, the focus is on conceptual understanding.
Concerns:
• While all basic information is accurate, the presentation is not interactive. There are no interactive diagrams to explore correlations; homework assignments and practice problems are designed to be completed independently but do not provide integrated, immediate feedback.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
• The site begins with an outline. Each item in the outline is a clickable link that takes one to that section. While it would be best to read the entire document, this is very useful for review.
• Material is all presented on one page. The site includes visual diagrams to illustrate the text descriptions. Links are all functional.
Concerns:
• The site is not very visually engaging and, as previously noted, would benefit from the inclusion of interactive components to teach about correlations as well as for students to practice their understanding of correlational analysis.
Other Issues and Comments:
This is a very good resource for basic information on correlation.
Creative Commons:
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