Simple Statistics for Correlating Survey Responses

Authors

• Robert G. Hollingsworth, USDA-ARSFollow
• Topaz P. Collins, University of Hawaii at HiloFollow
• Virginia Easton Smith, University of Hawaii ExtensionFollow
• Scot C. Nelson, Komohana Research and Extension CenterFollow

Volume

49

Issue

5

Abstract

The rank-sum test is a non-parametric hypothesis test that can be used to determine if there is a statistically significant association between categorical survey responses provided for two different survey questions. The use of this test is appropriate even when survey sample size is small. The rank-sum test is most useful when the goal is to determine whether two groups of respondents differ in their average response to a particular survey question for which response categories are logically ordered according to magnitude (e.g., Likert-scale responses).

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Recommended Citation

Hollingsworth, R. G., Collins, T. P., Smith, V. E., & Nelson, S. C. (2011). Simple Statistics for Correlating Survey Responses. Journal of Extension, 49(5), Article 31. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.49.05.31