HOW TO USE SPEARMAN’S RANK CORRELATION
COEFFICIENT
Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient can be used to compare (or correlate) any
two variables that may be related to each other. You can use this statistical test for
other variables that you think could be significant factors relating to weathering on
headstones.
Prediction
Always start with a prediction. This is sometimes called a hypothesis.
If you plan to related amount of weathering to the age of the headstone, what is the
hypothesis? Write it down below.
The null hypothesis
Because you are carrying out a statistical test, it is best to follow mathematical
conventions and add the null hypothesis. This always states that there is no
relationship between the two variables. This is done so that the Spearman’s
Correlation Coefficient can disprove the null hypothesis in order to show that your
hypothesis (or prediction) is more likely to be true and is not due to chance.
Write down the null hypothesis.
Scattergraph
The next stage is to draw a scattergraph to show the data you have collected. This
will show you roughly the relationship between the two sets of data.
The scattergraph shows two patterns about the data:
1. POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIP
It shows whether there is a positive or negative relationship between the two
sets of data. This is shown by the sign (+ or -), which is part of the Rs value that
you are going to calculate, and also by the direction in which the points on the
scattergraph lie.
 If one set of data increases as the other increases, this relationship is
POSITIVE
 If one set of data decreases as the other increases, this relationship is
NEGATIVE.
 If there is no apparent relationship between the two sets of data, the
scattergraph is RANDOM.
Draw rough sketches on the axes below to show positive, negative and random
scattergraphs.
2. STRENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP
It shows how closely related the two sets of data are. This is given by how close
the points on the scattergraph are to the line of best fit and also by the Rs value
that you are going to calculate. Draw the line of best fit on the scattergraphs
below and say which one shows the closest relationship between the two sets of
data.
HOW TO USE SPEARMAN’S RANK IN YOUR COURSEWORK
In this example you are going to be using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient to
find out whether the amount of weathering on a headstone is related to the length of
time during which it has been weathered.
Rahn’s Index is a method of assessing how much weathering has taken place on a
rock that has been carved with lettering, so it is ideal for using on headstones., even
though it is subjective, rather than objective. The age of the headstone is found by
looking at the dates carved to record the deaths of those buried beneath. There are
some difficulties with the accuracy of these dates for the age of the headstone itself,
which you can work out as you plan your coursework. In general, though, the age of
the headstone is an objective, not a subjective, measure.
AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU TO WORK OUT
Here is a worked example for some data collected by an A-level student for her
coursework.
Hypothesis: There is a relationship between Rahn’s index and the age of the
gravestone. The older the gravestone the higher the number of the Rahn’s index, i.e.
the more weathered it is.
Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between age of gravestone and Rahn’s
index.
Scattergraph
Draw this on graph paper, remembering to add axis labels, title and your conclusion
about whether the relationship is positive or negative and how closely the data follows
the line of best fit.
Table of original data with calculations for Spearman’s Rank
Each pair of figures on the table below is called a set of data. For Spearman’s Rank
to work well statistically, there should be from 10-30 sets of data.
DO NOT START TO COMPLETE THE TABLE WITHOUT READING THE
INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
RANKING
 When you start ranking the data use a pencil. It is very easy to make errors.
 When you rank data, put it in order with the largest number being ranked first
ie. Number 1 (technically this is not essential but makes the exercise easier to
understand).
 If there are several numbers which are the same, then you need to share their
ranks between them and give them all the average rank. For instance, if the
ranks were 2,3,4,5 then the average or shared rank for all of them would be
3.5.
 You can back check that your ranking is correct by seeing if the last rank is the
same as the total number of sets of data (or at least roughly, if the last set of
data has a shared rank).
 You could also back check by adding up the differences between ranks and
seeing if they come to zero.
Age in
years
177
171
155
142
142
141
133
126
125
123
123
123
119
117
97
93
90
86
82
60
55
29
26
20
12
Rank of age
Rahn’s
Index
Rank of
Rahn’s
Index
Difference
between the
ranks (d)
4
1
3
1
3
1
1
0
4
1
2
1
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
TOTAL OF d2
d2
The formula for the calculation is as follows:
Rs = 1 - 6 x d2
n(n2 – 1) where: Rs is the Spearman coefficient
d is the sum of the difference between the ranks
n is the number of sets of data
Complete the calculation using these spaces:
Rs = 1 -
6 x_________
n(n2 – 1)
Rs = 1 - ___________
25(252 – 1)
Rs = 1 – ____________
25( 625 – 1)
Rs = 1 - __________
15,600
Rs = 1 –
Rs =
THE ANSWER SHOULD HAVE A SIGN AND A
FIGURE BELOW ONE. IF THE FIGURE IS
GREATER THAN ONE THEN YOU HAVE MADE
AN ERROR. GO BACK AND CHECK YOUR
WORKING.
CONCLUSION
Firstly, look at the sign. Is it positive or negative? Does it match what you expected
from the scattergraph?
Secondly, look at the Rs value. To find out whether there is a correlation between
your two variables you need to compare the Rs value with the critical value in the
table below. The critical value varies according to how many sets of data there are, so
draw a line under the sets of data that you have used (25 in this example).
There are two columns of critical values.
 If your Rs value is above the critical value in the 5% column (sometimes
shown as 0.05) there is a 95% likelihood that there is a significant relationship
between your variables (age and weathering in this example) which is not due
to chance.
 If your Rs value is above the critical value in the 1% column (sometimes
shown as 0.01) there is a 99% likelihood that there is a significant relationship
between your variables (age and weathering in this example) which is not due
to chance.
Write a short conclusion to explain two ideas:


The nature of the relationship between the variables, ie. is it positive or
negative or is there no relationship, as shown by the Rs sign and the direction
of the scattergraph line?
The strength of the relationship between the variables as shown by the best fit
line on the scattergraph and the Rs value you have compared with the critical
value for the appropriate number of sets of data.
FINALLY:
Can you accept your hypothesis and reject your null hypothesis with an Rs value
that is more than the critical value at 5% (95%) or 1% (99%)?
Or do you have to accept the null hypothesis and reject your hypothesis because
your Rs value is below the critical value at 95%?
GEOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS
This student’s Rs value leads us to reject the hypothesis and accept the null
hypothesis, although the sign is positive which suggests that there is a relationship
between amount of weathering and age of headstone, although it may not be a very
strong relationship.
Why might the relationship not be as clear as we might expect? Are there any other
factors that may not have been taken into account? You will have to consider a
variety of variables that might be important in your gravestone study, so make a list
below.