RESEARCH · METHODS · EVIDENCE
Analyze categorical counts
Browse statistics lessons
- Statistics for research
- Center and spread
- Distributions and standard errors
- Statistical inference
- P-values and interpretation
- Critical values and test direction
- Compare means with t-tests
- Read t-test output
- Compare several means with ANOVA
- Read an ANOVA table
- Analyze categorical counts
- Read chi-square output
- Describe an association
- Read correlation results
- Interpret a regression model
- Choose a statistical method
- Statistics resources
Pearson’s chi-square test of independence examines association between categorical variables using observed and expected counts in a contingency table. Observations should be independent; repeated responses require a suitable alternative.
Do not put percentages into the count calculation. Examine expected counts before relying on the approximation; sparse tables may need an exact or other justified method. Association does not establish causation.
References: NIST categorical models