A researcher wants to examine the association between socioeconomic class (ordinal categories I to V) and birth order of children (ordinal). Which statistical method is most suitable?

• A Pearson correlation coefficient
• B Regression analysis
• C Chi-square test for trend
• D Spearman rank correlation ✓

Explanation

Both variables are measured on ordinal scales, so the strength and direction of monotonic association are assessed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, which correlates the ranks rather than raw values. Pearson's coefficient requires interval or ratio scale data with a linear relationship. A chi-square test evaluates independence between categorical variables but does not yield a graded measure of association strength between ordered ranks.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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