Population change

Investigating the relationship between 2 sets of variables.

Comparisons often need to be made between 2 sets of data to find out whether there is a
relationship between them. Note that even if there is a relationship between the 2 variables,
this does not prove a causal link i.e. it does not prove that a change in one variable is
responsible for a change in the other.

There are 2 main ways of testing this relationship:

1. Using scattergraphs

These can be used to simply present data, but they can also be useful in identifying patterns
and trends.

ACTIVITY

(a) Draw a scattergraph to show the relationship between mortality and people per doctor.

TIP: mortality should go on the vertical axis as it is the dependent variable and the
independent variable, people per doctor, should go on the horizontal axis.

(b) Draw a line of best fit and describe the relationship.

TIP: This shows whether there is a correlation between the two variables. The diagrams
below show the types of correlations.

(c) Suggest some reasons for this relationship.

2. Using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient

This is used to measure the degree to which there is a relationship between two variables.
The test can be done with any set of data which can be ranked. The formula for the
correlation coefficient is:

Rs = 1 - 6∑d2
n3 – n
d = the difference in the ranking between the two sets of paired data

n = the numbers of sets of paired data

Country Birth rate Rank GNP (US$) Rank Difference d2

(d)
UK
France
Germany
Spain
USA
Japan
Egypt
Sierra
Leone
India
Tunisia
Brazil
Mexico
Ghana
Nigeria
Mozambiqu
e
Sum of squares

ACTIVITY

(a) Complete the birth rate and GNP columns from the textbook (p150)

(b) Rank both columns – highest value will be 15. If 2 numbers are the same, give both the
mid-point e.g. 3.5

(c) Work out the difference between the 2 ranks

(d) Square the differences (multiply the number by itself)

(e) Add up all the squares (sum of squares)

(f) Then use the formula to calculate the result.

What the results mean

The result should always be between 0 and 1.

A positive value means there is a positive correlation; a negative value means there is a
negative correlation.

Refer to AQA A Geography P200-201 to find out how statistically significant your result is.