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Biserial Estimates of Correlation

Author(s):
Lord, Frederic M.
Publication Year:
1961
Report Number:
RB-61-05
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
11
Subject/Key Words:
Biserial Correlation, Correlation, Estimation (Mathematics)

Abstract

The statistic lambda is compared with the usual biserial-r with respect to efficiency for estimating the true correlation in the population from which the sample was drawn. Both statistics are designed for the case where one of the observed variables is assumed to result from the dichotomizing of a continuous variable. When the true correlation exceeds .50, the statistic lambda appears to be more efficient than is biserial-r.

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