Statistics corner: A guide to appropriate use of correlation coefficient in medical research.
Statistics corner: A guide to appropriate use of correlation coefficient in medical research.
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DOI：
10.4314/mmj.v24i3
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发表时间：
2012-09
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
M. Mukaka
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
M. Mukaka
相关性是一种用于评估两个连续变量之间可能存在的线性关联的统计方法。它计算简单，解释也容易。然而，研究人员中相关性的误用非常普遍，以至于一些统计学家甚至希望这个方法根本就没有被发明出来。本文的目的是为医学研究中相关性的正确使用提供指南，并强调一些误用情况。已经使用统计模拟数据以及真实数据提供了相关系数应用的实例。还提供了用于解释相关系数大小的经验法则。
Correlation is a statistical method used to assess a possible linear association between two continuous variables. It is simple both to calculate and to interpret. However, misuse of correlation is so common among researchers that some statisticians have wished that the method had never been devised at all. The aim of this article is to provide a guide to appropriate use of correlation in medical research and to highlight some misuse. Examples of the applications of the correlation coefficient have been provided using data from statistical simulations as well as real data. Rule of thumb for interpreting size of a correlation coefficient has been provided.