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Individual and ecological correlation in a general context
Author(s) -
Kraemer Helena Chmura
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830230203
Subject(s) - correlation , unit (ring theory) , context (archaeology) , variable (mathematics) , statistics , ecology , psychology , econometrics , computer science , mathematics , geography , biology , mathematics education , mathematical analysis , geometry , archaeology
This is a methodological study, applicable to all levels of living systems, which contrasts system wide measures with measures of individual units or components. If one samples K units and, in Unit i , samples n i observations of two characteristics, the correlation between these characteristics within a unit, the individual correlation, may be a different parameter from the correlation between summary measures of each unit, the ecological or systemwide correlation. If such a distinction is not taken into consideration in designing studies to evaluate relationships of characteristics of variable systems and in analyzing data from such studies, confusing and inaccurate inferences may be drawn. This general methodological point is illustrated by a study of testosterone level and orgasmic frequency in the human male.