Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-kw2vx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-08T15:51:21.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Technique for Correlating Measurable Traits with Freely Observed Social Behaviors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Charles C. Peters*
Affiliation:
The Pennsylvania State College

Abstract

In much research in social psychology it is impractical to get quantitative measure of the degree of effectiveness of certain social behaviors, yet associates can sense that effectiveness sufficiently well to detect those who manifest the behavior in very high or in very low degree. This paper develops a technique of biserial correlation from wide-spread classes to deal statistically with such situations, develops standard error formulas for it, and points to a wide range of usefulness for this type of technique.

Type
Original Paper
Copyright
Copyright © 1941 The Psychometric Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

* Peters, C. C., and VanVoorhis, W. R. Statistical procedures and their mathematical bases, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1940, 375-384.

* We are investigating the translation of this r into its hyperbolic arc-tangent, z’, and may find in this a more satisfactory method of interpreting the fiducial limits of the r.