St Edward's Academic Review 2025

ST EDWARD’S, OXFORD

Portrayal of Spearman’s rank data from March 2k erg test Using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient equation it was determined that the value for Spearman’s rank coefficient correlation from this set of data is 0.270. Due to the sample consisting of 10 people, and statistical science operating at a 95% significance level, this determines that the required critical value (used to determine whether the calculated value is significant) is 0.648. The calculated value is smaller than the critical value, this determines that the calculated value is not strong enough to indicate a correlation to a 95% confidence level. This means that the null hypothesis is accepted, so it can be determined that within this set of data there is no significant relationship between the erg test time obtained and the height of the athletes. This opposes the hypothesis which stated that there would be a difference between the 2k erg test results of taller and shorter athletes. This suggests that within the sample there is no significant relationship between height and erg test time, implying that there could be more significant variables that determine erg test times. Portrayal of Spearman’s rank data from July 2k erg test The value for Spearman’s rank coefficient correlation from this set of data is 0.382. Due to the sample consisting of 11 people, and statistical science operating at a 95% significance level, this determines that the required critical value is 0.618. The calculated value is smaller than the critical value, this suggests that the calculated value is not strong enough to indicate a correlation to a 95% confidence level, and therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted, and it can be determined that within this sample, height has a minimal role in affecting a 2k erg test time and taller athletes do not appear to have faster erg times than shorter athletes. When compared to results of the March erg testing it seems that as time has passed (four months), the relationship between height and 2k erg test (whilst still statistically insignificant), has somewhat strengthened, with an increase from a calculated Spearman’s rank of 0.270 to 0.382 (an increase of 0.112). Given that other variables were not tested in this experiment, it cannot be determined exactly what change occurred within the athletes to strengthen this relationship, however it does suggest that maybe with further testing over a longer period

From the lines of best fit introduced to Graph A, it seems that whilst there isn’t a clearly defined relationship between the variable’s height and erg time, the line of best fit could suggest that as height increases, erg time does decrease, leading to a quicker 2k. Graph B shows a similar pattern, the line of best fit weakly suggests that taller athletes have faster 2k erg times. However, these graphs alone are not effective ways to determine if there is a relationship between the two variables and there is a large range of heights and erg times present in this sample so further testing is required to come to a clear conclusion. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was the most appropriate test to use to determine the strength of the relationship between the height of the rowers and their 2k erg test time. It uses a scale of -1 to 1, 1 being a strong positive correlation, 0 being no correlation, -1 being a strong negative correlation. The two variables here: height of the participants, and 2k erg time, recorded in minutes and seconds, are independent of one another, making this test most appropriate to use. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient

The equation used to determine Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient where:

Σ = sum N= sample size D= difference between two variables ranks R= calculated value

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