Computing in

Archaeology
Session 11. Correlation and
regression analysis
© Richard Haddlesey www.medievalarchitecture.net
 Lecture aims
 To introduce correlation and
regression techniques
 The scattergram
 In correlation, we are always dealing
with paired scores, and so values of
the two variables taken together
will be used to make a scattergram
 example
 Quantities of New Forrest pottery
recovered from sites at varying distances
from the kilns

Site Distance Quantity

(km)
1 4 98
2 20 60
3 32 41
4 34 47
5 24 62
 Negative correlation

Here we can see that the quantity of pottery decreases as

distance from the source increases
 Positive correlation

Here we see that the taller a pot, the wider the rim
Curvilinear monotonic relation

Again the further from source, the less quantity

of artefacts
 Arched relationship
(non-monotonic)

Here we see the first molar increases with age and is

then worn down as the animal gets older
 scattergram
 This shows us that scattergrams are
the most important means of
studying relationships between two
variables
 REGRESSION
 Regression differs from other techniques
we have looked at so far in that it is
concerned not just with whether or not a
relationship exists, or the strength of that
relationship, but with its nature

 In regression analysis we use an

independent variable to estimate (or
predict) the values of a dependent variable
 Regression equation
y = f(x)

 y = y axis (in this case the

dependent

 f = function (of x)

 x = x axis
 y = f(x)

y=x y = 2x y = x2
 General linear equations
 y = a + bx

 Where y is the dependent variable, x

is the independent variable, and the
coefficients a and b are constants,
i.e. they are fixed for a given data
 Therefore:
 If x = 0 then the equation reduces to y =
a, so a represents the point where the
regression line crosses the y axis (the
intercept)

 The b constant defines the slope of

gradient of the regression line

 Thus for the pottery quantity in relation to

distance from source, b represents the
amount of decrease in pottery quantity
from the source
y = a + bx
least-squares
least-squares
least-squares
least-squares
y = a + bx
y = a + bx
y = 102.64 – 1.8x
CORRELATION
 CORRELATION

1 correlation coefficient
 CORRELATION

1 correlation coefficient

2 significance
 CORRELATION

1 correlation coefficient
• r

2 significance
 CORRELATION

1 correlation coefficient
• r
• -1 to +1

2 significance
 Levels of measurement:

• nominal – in name only

• ordinal – forming a sequence

• interval – a sequence with fixed distances

• ratio – fixed distances with a datum point

 Levels of measurement:

• nominal

• ordinal

• interval

• ratio
 Levels of measurement:

• nominal

• ordinal

• interval Product-Moment
Correlation Coefficient
• ratio
 Levels of measurement:

• nominal

• ordinal Spearman’s Rank

Correlation Coefficient
• interval

• ratio
The Product-Moment
Correlation Coefficient
 sample – 20 bronze spearheads
length (cm) width (cm)

n=20
 r= nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) g
√[nΣx2 – (Σx)2] [nΣy2 – (Σy)2]
length (cm) width (cm)

n=20
r= nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) g
√[nΣx2 – (Σx)2] [nΣy2 – (Σy)2]

n=20
r= nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) g
√[nΣx2 – (Σx)2] [nΣy2 – (Σy)2]

n=20
r= nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) g= +0.67
√[nΣx2 – (Σx)2] [nΣy2 – (Σy)2]

n=20
Test of product moment correlation coefficient
Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables approximately random

Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables approximately random

Sample statistics needed: n and r

Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables approximately random

Sample statistics needed: n and r

Test statistic: TS = r
Test of product moment correlation coefficient

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables approximately random

Sample statistics needed: n and r

Test statistic: TS = r

Table: product moment correlation coefficient table.

n = 20
n = 20 r = 0.67 p<0.01
n = 20 r = 0.67 p<0.01
length (cm) width (cm)
Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)
Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables at least ordinal

Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables at least ordinal

Sample statistics needed: n and rs

Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables at least ordinal

Sample statistics needed: n and rs

Test statistic: TS = rs
Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (rs)

H0 : true correlation coefficient = 0

H1 : true correlation coefficient ≠ 0

Assumptions: both variables at least ordinal

Sample statistics needed: n and rs

Test statistic: TS = rs