Effects of Scaling on the Correlation Coefficient: Additional Considerations

Abstract

Distortion in the Pearson product moment correlation due to a restricted number of scale points is evaluated in two ways. First, a simulation of the bivariate normal distribution is used to estimate the effects of varying the number of scale points on the product moment correlation. This procedure demonstrates a substantial amount of information loss. Second, other correlation coefficients and some methods to correct for this loss are discussed and related to the simulation data.