Calculator Suite
Correlation Analysis Calculator
Correlation AnalysisAnalyze relationships between variables using Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlation methods with comprehensive statistical testing and interactive visualizations.
Educational Resources
Pearson Correlation
Measures linear relationships. Assumes normality and is sensitive to outliers.
Spearman Correlation
Based on ranked data. Captures monotonic relationships and is robust to outliers.
Kendall's Tau
Based on concordant pairs. More robust for small samples but yields smaller values.
Correlation Strength
- • 0.0-0.2: Very weak
- • 0.2-0.4: Weak
- • 0.4-0.6: Moderate
- • 0.6-0.8: Strong
- • 0.8-1.0: Very strong
Direction
- • Positive: Both variables increase together
- • Negative: One increases as other decreases
- • Zero: No linear relationship
Correlation measures how two variables move together. The correlation coefficient (r) ranges from-1 (perfect inverse) to +1 (perfect direct). Zero means no linear relationship. Use Pearson r for linear relationships with normal data, Spearman ρ for ranked or skewed data.
Enter Paired Data
Enter X values (e.g., height) and corresponding Y values (e.g., weight). Data must be paired.
Choose Correlation Method
Pearson for linear relationships, Spearman for monotonic/ranked data, Kendall for small samples.
View Results
See correlation coefficient, p-value, strength classification, and R² (variance explained).
Interpret the Scatter Plot
Visualize the relationship with regression line and confidence intervals.
📊 Example: Height vs Weight Study
Data: 20 adults, heights (inches) vs weights (lbs)
Pearson r
0.82
Strength
Strong Positive
p-value
<0.001
R² Explained
67%
Interpretation: Taller people tend to weigh more. Height explains 67% of weight variation.
For Pearson Correlation:
- • Both variables are continuous
- • Linear relationship between variables
- • Data is approximately normally distributed
- • No significant outliers
When to Use Spearman/Kendall:
- • Ordinal data or ranks
- • Non-linear but monotonic relationships
- • Outliers present in data
- • Small sample sizes (Kendall)
Remember: Correlation does not imply causation! A strong correlation between X and Y doesn't mean X causes Y.
What is the difference between Pearson and Spearman correlation?
Pearson measures linear relationships between continuous variables. Spearman uses ranks and captures monotonic relationships—when one variable consistently increases/decreases with the other, even non-linearly.
What does R² (R-squared) tell me?
R² = r². It tells you the proportion of variance in Y that's explained by X. An R² of 0.64 means 64% of Y's variation can be predicted by X.
What correlation value is "good enough"?
It depends on your field! In physics, r = 0.9 might be weak. In psychology, r = 0.5 is often strong. Generally: |r| < 0.3 weak, 0.3-0.7 moderate, >0.7 strong.
Why is my correlation not significant even though r is high?
Small sample sizes have less statistical power. With only 5 data points, even r = 0.8 may not be significant. Collect more data for reliable significance testing.
Can correlation be exactly 0?
A zero correlation means no linear relationship—but there could still be a non-linear relationship! Always visualize your data with a scatter plot.