STEP-BY-STEP TECHNOLOGY GUIDE: Rank Correlation Test

Although the TI-83/84 and Excel do not have a built-in function for the rank correlation test, we can find the rank correlation as follows: (a) for each data value in the first sample, substitute its rank within that sample, (b) for each data value in the second sample, substitute its rank within that sample, and (c) find the value of the correlation coefficient r (see Section 4.1) for the two sets of ranks.

TI-83/84

  • Step 1 Enter the ranks into lists L1 and L2. Make sure that the two lists represent paired data; that is, the first value in L1 represents the same subject as the first value in L2, and so on.
  • Step 2 Press 2nd and then CATALOG. Scroll down to DiagnosticOn and press ENTER twice.
  • Step 3 Press STAT, and highlight CALC. Select LinReg(a+bx) and press ENTER twice. The displayed value of r is the value of the rank correlation.

EXCEL

  • Step 1 Enter the ranks into columns A and B. Make sure that the two lists represent paired data; that is, the first value in A represents the same subject as the first value in B, and so on.
  • Step 2 In cell C1, type = CORREL(A1 : An, B1:Bn), where n is replaced by the sample size for your data. Hit Enter. The displayed value of r is the value of the rank correlation.

MINITAB

  • Step 1 Enter the raw data values into columns C1 and C2. Make sure that the two lists represent paired data; that is, the first value in C1 represents the same subject as the first value in C2, and so on.
  • Step 2 Select Stat > Basic Statistics > Correlation….
  • Step 3 Enter C1 and C2 under Variables. Under Method, choose Spearman rho and click OK.

14-52

SPSS

  • Step 1 Enter the raw data values into the first two columns. Make sure that the two lists represent paired data; that is, the first value in the first column represents the same subject as the first value in the second column, and so on.
  • Step 2 Select Analyze > Correlate > Bivariate….
  • Step 3 Move the two variables to Variables, uncheck Pearson, check Spearman, and click OK.

JMP

  • Step 1 Click File > New > Data Table. Enter the raw data values into Column 1 and Column 2. Make sure that the two lists represent paired data; that is, the first value in Column 1 represents the same subject as the first value in Column 2, and so on.
  • Step 2 Select Analyze > Multivariate Methods > Multivariate
  • Step 3 Move the two variables to Y, Columns and click OK.
  • Step 4 Click the red arrow beside Multivariate, highlight Nonparametric Correlations, and select Spearman's ρ.