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Estimation of the correlation coefficient in the case of a bivariate normal population when one of the variables is dichotomized

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Abstract

It is shown that the problem of estimation of the correlation coefficient of a bivariate normal population when one of the variables is dichotomized may be attacked with “probit analysis” methods. This represents an extension of the work of Gillman and Goode (3), as it was possible to find by this approach an approximation to the large-sample variance of the resulting estimateG ofρ. An empirical investigation was undertaken with the object of obtaining some information about the distribution ofG for large sample size. Methods for determining the “pass-fail” cut-off are considered.

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References

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The author wishes to thank the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for permission to publish this paper. The invaluable assistance of Mr. H. S. Sichel in the preparation of this manuscript is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Maritz, J.S. Estimation of the correlation coefficient in the case of a bivariate normal population when one of the variables is dichotomized. Psychometrika 18, 97–110 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02288999

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02288999

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