Correlation coefficient in the analysis of electoral outcome in Nigeria’s 2003 presidential ballot

Abstract

General elections conducted in Nigeria have always attracted a mixed reaction from both internal and external observers over the nature of its conducts. Many Nigerians observed that, the 1999 and 2003 presidential elections were characterized by irregularities, fraud and violence, yet the results were respectively declared free and fair. To test the hypotheses formulated using Pearson‟s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) measurement technique, an attempt is made to ascertain the degree of association or otherwise between the election inputs and any other associational influence on the vote pattern of the electorates, between choice party and candidate‟s popularity. The essence is that, Pearson‟s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) is a parametric technique used for determining the strength and the direction of the relationship between two variables X and Y.

Keywords: Presidential, ballot, outcome, correlation