The curve of Frequency contains no easily perceived unit of variability
like the Quartile of the Curve of Distribution. It is therefore not
suited for and was not used as a first illustration, but the formula
that expresses it is by far the more suitable of the two for
calculation. Its unit of variability is what is called the ‘Standard
Deviation,’ whose genesis will admit of illustration. How the
calculations are made for finding its value is far beyond the reach of
the present lessons. The calculated ordinates of the normal curve must
be accepted by the learner much as the time of day by his watch, though
he be ignorant of the principles of its construction. Much further
beyond his reach are the formulae used to express quasi-normal and skew
curves. They require a previous knowledge of rather advanced
mathematics.
(New words and ideas—Curve of Frequency, Standard Deviation, Mean,
Binomial Series).
The fifth and last lesson deals with the measurement of Correlation,
that is, with the closeness of the relation between any two systems
whose variations are due partly to causes common to both, and partly to
causes special to each. It applies to nearly every social relation, as
to environment and health, social position and fertility, the kinship of
parent to child, of uncle to nephew, &c. It may be mechanically
illustrated by the movements of two pulleys with weights attached,
suspended from a cord held by one of the hands of three different
persons, 1, 2, and 3. No. 2 holds the middle of the cord, one half of
which then passes round one of the pulleys up to the hand of No. 1; the
other half similarly round the other pulley up to the hand of No. 3. The
hands of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 move up and down quite independently, but as
the movements of both weights are simultaneously controlled in part by
No. 2, they become ‘correlated.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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