0.7 correlation but almost 0 p-value, how to interpret?

In summary, the correlation between the two data sets is about 0.7. The p-value, which is provided by a software, is about 10-92, which suggests that the correlation is not really strong.
  • #1
fluidistic
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Hi guys,
I've compared 2 samples of data from which I expected some correlation. The result is that the correlation is about 0.7 while the p-value (calculated by a software) is about ##10^{-92}##.
I don't really know how to interpret this low p-value. Does that mean that I can fully trust that the correlation is indeed 0.7 or does that mean that not at all. That it's extremely unlikely.
Or does that implies something else?
Thank you.
 
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  • #2
The p-value for what?

For being uncorrelated? Then you know it is correlated for sure, and probably with a correlation close to 0.7. Apart from very weird cases, this value of 0.7 should be quite precise, otherwise I don't see how you would get such a small p-value.
 
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  • #3
mfb said:
The p-value for what?

For being uncorrelated? Then you know it is correlated for sure, and probably with a correlation close to 0.7. Apart from very weird cases, this value of 0.7 should be quite precise, otherwise I don't see how you would get such a small p-value.
From the program itself:
ThePearson correlation coefficient measures the linear relationship
between two datasets.Strictly speaking,Pearson's correlation requires
that each dataset be normally distributed. Like other correlation
coefficients, this one varies between -1 and +1 with 0 implying no
correlation. Correlations of -1 or +1 imply an exact linear
relationship. Positive correlations imply that as x increases, so does
y. Negative correlations imply that as x increases, y decreases.

The p-value roughly indicates the probability of an uncorrelated system
producing datasets that have a Pearson correlation at least as extreme
as the one computed from these datasets. The p-values are not entirely
reliable but are probably reasonable for datasets larger than 500 or so.
So... the probability that an uncorrelated data set having a correlation of 0.70 or more is basically 0, is what the p-value is telling me?
But "uncorrelated" from which data set? From both that I tested?
 
  • #4
It means that your two data sets are very unlikely to be uncorrelated with each other, assuming that you have enough data . It would be a very freak occurrence for two uncorrelated data sets to appear that well correlated just by luck
 
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  • #5
Thank you very much guys!
 

Related to 0.7 correlation but almost 0 p-value, how to interpret?

1. What does a 0.7 correlation mean?

A 0.7 correlation means that there is a strong positive linear relationship between two variables. This means that as one variable increases, the other variable also tends to increase.

2. What does almost 0 p-value indicate in this scenario?

An almost 0 p-value indicates that there is a very low probability that the observed correlation occurred by chance. This suggests that the relationship between the variables is statistically significant and not due to random chance.

3. Can a 0.7 correlation be considered significant if the p-value is almost 0?

Yes, a 0.7 correlation can still be considered significant even if the p-value is almost 0. This is because the p-value does not directly measure the strength of the correlation, but rather the likelihood of obtaining the observed correlation by chance.

4. Is a 0.7 correlation considered a strong correlation?

Yes, a 0.7 correlation is generally considered a strong correlation. However, the interpretation of correlation strength may vary depending on the field of study and the specific variables being examined.

5. How should I interpret a 0.7 correlation with almost 0 p-value in my research?

If you have found a 0.7 correlation with almost 0 p-value in your research, it is important to examine the context of your study and the variables involved. This strong correlation and low p-value suggest a significant relationship between the variables, but it is always important to consider other factors and potential limitations in your research before drawing conclusions.

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