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SPSS Output Explorer
Explore example SPSS tables and learn what each value means. This free tool uses simulated data—it does not run statistical analyses or read your own results.
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Pearson correlation
Is the number of hours students study each week related to their exam score? 40 students reported their average weekly study hours over the term, and their module exam scores (0 to 100) were recorded.
Only the parts of the output needed to read this result are shown. Where SPSS prints more, a note under the table says what has been left out and why.
| Mean | Std. Deviation | N | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly study hours | 40 | ||
| Exam score | 40 |
| Weekly study hours | Exam score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly study hours | Pearson Correlation | 1 | |
| Sig. (2-tailed) | |||
| N | |||
| Exam score | Pearson Correlation | 1 | |
| Sig. (2-tailed) | |||
| N | |||
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Selected output. Not shown: confidence intervals for the correlation, which SPSS 29 can add as an option. Its method for them has not yet been independently confirmed, so they are left out rather than risk showing an incorrect value.
About this example
Cross-sectional correlational design: 40 students reported their average weekly study hours over the term (in whole hours), and their scores on the module exam (0 to 100) were recorded. Each student contributes one pair of values. Diagnostic checks found no strong evidence of a curved relationship; this does not prove that the relationship is perfectly straight. To check whether any one student drove the result, the correlation was recalculated with each student removed in turn: the positive correlation remained statistically significant every time. The largest Cook's distance, a measure of how much a single student shifts the result, was 0.29. In a real analysis, always look at a scatterplot as well.
Limitations
- The data are simulated for teaching.
- Study hours are self-reported and may be inaccurate.
- Other variables, such as prior attainment or motivation, were not measured.
- Correlation does not show causation: these data cannot show that studying more causes higher scores.
What can be concluded
Students who studied more hours tended to have higher exam scores: a positive, statistically significant correlation between the medium and large benchmarks. This describes an association in this sample of 40 students. It does not show that studying more causes higher scores. Report r with its degrees of freedom and p, and describe the direction in words.
Working on your own Pearson correlation?
This Explorer is a free teaching resource. Its examples use simulated data, and it does not run analyses or look at your own output.
The Result Decoder (paid) is for your own results: you enter the values from your completed analysis and get an APA 7 results paragraph, a plain-English interpretation, checks on the values you entered, effect-size guidance, charts where available and Defend This Result practice.