From the previous topic, we only studied one variable in hypothesis testing.

We try to verify a claim

about a population (e.g. average salary, cost, weight, time, etc.) by examining the sample data. It is
called univariate data. In this topic, we will examine bivariate data.

A. BIVARIATE DATA

We have a bivariate data when we are studying two variables. These

variables are changing and are compared to find the
relationships between them. For example, if you are studying a group of
plants to find out if there is a connection between their amount of growth
and their time exposed to sun, you have two variables (growth and time
of sun exposure).

When we are examining bivariate data, the two variables could

depend on each other. One variable could influence another. In
this case, we say that the bivariate data has a dependent and
independent variable. An example of dependent and
independent variables are age and heights of the babies and
toddlers. When age increases, the height also increases.

Note
Commonly, bivariate data is stored in a table with two
columns.

Types of Relationship in bivariate data

There are 2 types of relationship between the dependent and independent variable:

 A positive relationship (also called positive correlation) – that means if the independent
variable increases, then the dependent variable would also increase and vice versa. The
above example about the kids’ age and height is a classical positive relationship.
 A negative relationship (negative correlation) – when the independent variable increases and
the dependent variable decrease and vice versa. Example: when the car age increases, the
car price decreases.

Definition
 Bivariate data- consist of two variables and be either dependent or independent variable
 Independent variable (x)- the variable that can cause the dependent variable to change
 Dependent variable (y)- the variable that is influenced/affected by the independent variable
 Positive relationship – both variables increase or decrease at the same time.
 Negative Relationship – as one variable increases, the other decreases, and vice versa

B. SCATTER PLOT

Bivariate data is most often displayed using a scatter plot. This is a plot on a grid paper of y (y-axis)
against x (x-axis) and indicates the behavior of given data sets.

Scatter plot is one of the popular types of graphs that give us a much more clear picture of a possible
relationship between the variables.
 Example:
Construct a scatter plot of a given bivariate data.

1. RAW DATA OF EMPLOYEE’S AGE AND

SCATTER PLOT
BLOOD PRESSURE

BLOOD PRESSURE
180

160

140

BLOOD PRESSURE
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
30 35 40 45 50 55 60
AGE

DESCRIPTION: Base on the scatter plot, the points are creating a straight line going upward. It is
obvious that there is a relationship between age and blood pressure and this relationship is
positive (i.e. we have positive correlation). The older the age, the higher the systolic blood pressure.
o Shape (form): LINEAR
o Trend (direction):POSITIVE
o Variation (strength):STRONG

Note
The shape of the scatter plot is linear when it forms a straight line, otherwise it is nonlinear.
The trend is positive when it is going upward (indicating a positive relationship) or negative
when it is going downward (indicating a negative relationship). But when the scatter plot
displays a horizontal line, then it has no trend.
The Variation is strong when the points on the scatter plot are closer to each other, creating
a straight line. When the points are scattered, the variation is weak.
 2. RAW DATA OF STUDENTS’ SCORE IN
MASTERY TEST AND NUMBER OF TIME SCATTER PLOT
IN SLEEPING
Student Average Average
Number Sleeping Grade
Hours 120
1 2 78
2 3 80 100
3 5 90
4 4 87
80

AVERAGE GRADES
5 6 95
6 5 90
7 7 93 60
8 8 97
9 7 96 40
10 5 92
11 6 88 20
12 7 89
13 4 90
14 5 88 0
0 2 4 6 8 10
15 6 87
SLEEPING HOURS
16 3 96
17 4 85
18 4 84

DESCRIPTION: Base on the scatter plot, the points are creating a straight line going upward. It is
clear that there is a relationship between number of hours the students sleep and their average
grade, and moreover this relationship is positive. The longer the sleeping time, the better the
grades.
o Shape (form): LINEAR with outlier
o Trend (direction):POSITIVE
o Variation (strength):STRONG

3. RAW DATA OF STUDENTS’ MISTAKES IN

EXAM AND NUMBER OF HOURS IN SCATTER PLOT
STUDYING

Student Number of Mistakes in

Number hours in exam 25
studying
1 1 16 20
2 3 14
Mistakes in Exam

3 5 3
4 4 13 15
5 6 1
6 5 3
10
7 7 2
8 2 13
9 1 20 5
10 4 4
11 6 2
0
12 7 5 0 2 4 6 8
13 2 11
Number of hours in studying
14 3 6
15 4 7
DESCRIPTION: Base on the scatter plot, the points are creating a straight line going downward. It is
clear that there is a relationship between the number of hours the students study and their mistakes
committed on the exam. The relationship is negative. The longer the studying time, the lesser the
mistakes in exam.
o Shape (form): LINEAR
o Trend (direction):NEGATIVE
o Variation (strength):WEAK

Other examples of scatter plot:

Integration
Relationship can be toxic or awesome, good or bad, amazing or disgusting, or simply
a negative or a positive.
What positive relationship do you have with someone? What negative
relationship do you have? How do you cope up with a negative relationship?
The best way to kill your enemy is to make them your friends.
Turn your negative relationship into positive so that you could live a happy and
peaceful life. Love them as we are commanded by God. (Matthew 5:44)