Biserial is a term that is often used in statistics and data analysis. It refers to the correlation between a continuous variable and a binary variable. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of biserial, its origin, and its associations.
Definitions
Biserial is defined as a correlation coefficient that measures the strength of the relationship between a continuous variable and a binary variable. It is calculated using the point-biserial correlation coefficient, which is a statistical measure that ranges from -1 to 1. A value of -1 indicates a perfect negative correlation, while a value of 1 indicates a perfect positive correlation.
Origin
The term biserial is derived from the Latin words “bi” meaning two and “seria” meaning series. It was first used in the early 20th century by statisticians who were studying the relationship between two variables.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, biserial means “having two series or rows.” In the Oxford English Dictionary, it is defined as “relating to or involving two series or sets of data.”
Associations
Biserial is often used in research studies to determine the relationship between a continuous variable, such as age or income, and a binary variable, such as gender or race. It can also be used to analyze the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention on a binary outcome, such as whether or not a patient recovers from a disease.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of biserial include bivariate, two-dimensional, and dualistic.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of biserial, but it is often contrasted with univariate, which refers to the analysis of a single variable.
The same root words
Other words that share the same root as biserial include biennial, bilateral, and bimonthly. These words all contain the prefix “bi,” which means two.
Example Sentences
- The researcher found a strong biserial correlation between age and income.
- The study analyzed the biserial relationship between gender and job satisfaction.
- The point-biserial correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength of the relationship between the treatment and the binary outcome.