Open AccessDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS - SPURIOUS CORRELATION
Author(s) -
M. Selim Yalin,
J. William Kamphuis
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
proceedings of conference on coastal engineering/proceedings of ... conference on coastal engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2156-1028
pISSN - 0589-087X
DOI - 10.9753/icce.v12.38
Subject(s) - spurious relationship , correlation , computer science , statistical physics , mathematics , machine learning , physics , geometry
The theory of dimensions has been subject of considerable controversy and only in the last few decades has it been agreed that dimensional methods can serve as a powerful tool m experimental investigations of physical phenomena Its effectiveness becomes especially noticeable when the number of factors involved is large and the theoretical knowledge is insufficient However, like any other mathematical tool, the theory of dimensions can supply correct and useful results only if it is properly applied One example of improper application is the introduction of an exaggerated and sometimes simply of a nonexistent correlation between the experimental results The purpose of the present paper is to analyse these kinds of spurious correlation.