Measures of relationship
Topic: Geographical Data: Sources, Compilation and Processing · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Data Processing"
Meaning
Measures of relationship are statistical tools that show how closely two or more variables are linked. In geography, many variables act on each other, so it helps to measure how strong a link is and which way it runs. The most common measure is the correlation coefficient, which runs from −1 to +1. These measures help explain patterns on the ground, such as why some regions flood more or harvest more.
Example
A geographer studying the districts of Punjab could compare fertiliser use with wheat yield to see whether more fertiliser goes with higher yield. In the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, rainfall can be compared with how often floods happen.
Don't confuse with
- Measures of dispersion: they describe the spread of a single variable. Measures of relationship compare two or more variables.
- Proof of cause: a close relationship shows that two things move together, not that one causes the other.
Related concepts
- Measures of dispersion
- Range
- Mean deviation
- Standard deviation
- Coefficient of variation
- Correlation coefficient