Selecting Statistical Tests - ASSOCIATION
The following tests measure the strength of association between two variables that can be either nominal, ordinal or continuous. These tests make no assumptions about which variable is either dependent or independent, although you might have classified this in your study yourself.
How many, and what type, of variables do you have...?
(1) you have two variables that are both ordinal. For example, you are looking for a relationship between two statements made on a Likert scale.
The diagram below presents a general schematic to help you visualize this type of statistical test:
http://statistics.laerd.com © Lund Research Ltd 2010
Is this your situation? 
No, keep reading on...
(2) you have two variables that are both continuous. For example, you are trying to find out if there is a relationship between body weight and distance jumped in a long jump.
The diagram below presents a general schematic to help you visualize this type of statistical test:
http://statistics.laerd.com © Lund Research Ltd 2010
Is this your situation? No, keep reading on...
(3) you have two variables that are both nominal. Both your variables are nominal and they can have two or more levels/categories/groups. For example, one variable could be gender (male/female) and the other could be nationality (UK/US/Australia).
The diagram below presents a general schematic to help you visualize this type of statistical test:
http://statistics.laerd.com © Lund Research Ltd 2010
Is this your situation? No, keep reading on...
(4) you have more than two variables that are all nominal. All your variables are categorical and they can have two or more levels/categories/groups.
The diagram below presents a general schematic to help you visualize this type of statistical test:
http://statistics.laerd.com © Lund Research Ltd 2010
Is this your situation?