Why Is R² Not Equal To The Square Of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r²) In My Multivariate Regression Model?
Introduction
When working with multivariate regression models, it's common to encounter the terms R² and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²). While both metrics are used to evaluate the goodness of fit of a model, they are not always equal. In this article, we'll explore why R² is not equal to the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) in a multivariate regression model.
What is R²?
R², also known as the coefficient of determination, is a measure of the proportion of the variance in the dependent variable that is predictable from the independent variables. It's a widely used metric in regression analysis to evaluate the goodness of fit of a model. R² ranges from 0 to 1, where 1 indicates a perfect fit and 0 indicates no fit.
What is Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
Pearson's correlation coefficient, denoted as r, measures the linear relationship between two continuous variables. When we square the correlation coefficient, we get r², which represents the proportion of the variance in one variable that is predictable from the other variable.
Why is R² not equal to the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
In a multivariate regression model, R² is not equal to the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) because R² takes into account the variance explained by all the independent variables, not just one. In other words, R² is a measure of the overall fit of the model, while r² is a measure of the fit between two specific variables.
To illustrate this, let's consider an example. Suppose we have a multivariate regression model with two independent variables, X1 and X2, and a dependent variable, Y. The model is:
Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + ε
In this case, R² measures the proportion of the variance in Y that is predictable from X1 and X2 combined. However, if we were to calculate the correlation coefficient between Y and X1, we would get a different value, denoted as r1. Similarly, if we were to calculate the correlation coefficient between Y and X2, we would get a different value, denoted as r2.
The square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X1 (r1²) and the square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X2 (r2²) would not be equal to R². This is because R² takes into account the variance explained by both X1 and X2, while r1² and r2² only take into account the variance explained by X1 and X2 separately.
Example in Python using Scikit-Learn
Let's use Scikit-Learn to demonstrate this concept. We'll create a multivariate regression model with two independent variables and a dependent variable, and then calculate R² and the square of the correlation coefficient between the dependent variable and each independent variable.
import numpy as np
from sklearn.linear_model import Lasso
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.metrics import r2_score

np.random.seed(0)
X1 = np.random.rand(100, 1)
X2 = np.random.rand(100, 1Y = 3 + 2 * X1 + 4 * X2 + np.random.randn(100, 1)
X1_train, X1_test, X2_train, X2_test, Y_train, Y_test = train_test_split(X1, X2, Y, test_size=0.2, random_state=0)
lasso = Lasso(alpha=0.1, max_iter=10000)
lasso.fit(np.hstack((X1_train, X2_train)), Y_train)
Y_pred = lasso.predict(np.hstack((X1_test, X2_test)))
R2 = r2_score(Y_test, Y_pred)
print("R²:", R2)
r1 = np.corrcoef(Y_test.flatten(), X1_test.flatten())[0, 1]
r1_squared = r1 ** 2
print("r1²:", r1_squared)
r2 = np.corrcoef(Y_test.flatten(), X2_test.flatten())[0, 1]
r2_squared = r2 ** 2
print("r2²:", r2_squared)
In this example, we generate some random data and create a multivariate regression model using Lasso. We then calculate R² and the square of the correlation coefficient between the dependent variable and each independent variable. As expected, R² is not equal to the square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X1 (r1²) or the square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X2 (r2²).
Conclusion
In conclusion, R² is not equal to the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) in a multivariate regression model because R² takes into account the variance explained by all the independent variables, not just one. This is an important concept to understand when working with multivariate regression models, as it can affect the interpretation of the results. By using Scikit-Learn to demonstrate this concept, we've shown that R² is not equal to the square of the correlation coefficient between the dependent variable and each independent variable.
Q: What is the main difference between R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
A: The main difference between R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) is that R² takes into account the variance explained by all the independent variables, while the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) only takes into account the variance explained by one independent variable.
Q: Can you provide an example to illustrate this concept?
A: Suppose we have a multivariate regression model with two independent variables, X1 and X2, and a dependent variable, Y. The model is:
Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + ε
In this case, R² measures the proportion of the variance in Y that is predictable from X1 and X2 combined. However, if we were to calculate the correlation coefficient between Y and X1, we would get a different value, denoted as r1. Similarly, if we were to calculate the correlation coefficient between Y and X2, we would get a different value, denoted as r2.
The square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X1 (r1²) and the square of the correlation coefficient between Y and X2 (r2²) would not be equal to R². This is because R² takes into account the variance explained by both X1 and X2, while r1² and r2² only take into account the variance explained by X1 and X2 separately.
Q: How can I calculate R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) in Python using Scikit-Learn?
A: You can use the following code to calculate R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) in Python using Scikit-Learn:
import numpy as np
from sklearn.linear_model import Lasso
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.metrics import r2_score
np.random.seed(0)
X1 = np.random.rand(100, 1)
X2 = np.random.rand(100, 1)
Y = 3 + 2 * X1 + 4 * X2 + np.random.randn(100, 1)
X1_train, X1_test, X2_train, X2_test, Y_train, Y_test = train_test_split(X1, X2, Y, test_size=0.2, random_state=0)
lasso = Lasso(alpha=0.1, max_iter=10000)
lasso.fit(np.hstack((X1_train, X2_train)), Y_train)
Y_pred = lasso.predict(np.hstack((X1_test, X2_test)))
R2 = r2_score(Y_test, Y_pred)
print("R²:", R2)
r1 = np.corrcoef(Y_test.flatten(), X1_test.flatten())[0, 1]
r1_squared = r1 ** 2
print("r1²:", r1_squared)
r2 = np.corrcoef(Y_test.flatten X2_test.flatten())[0, 1]
r2_squared = r2 ** 2
print("r2²:", r2_squared)
Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when working with R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
A: Some common mistakes to avoid when working with R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) include:
- Not accounting for the variance explained by multiple independent variables when calculating R²
- Not understanding the difference between R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)
- Not using the correct formula to calculate R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)
- Not checking for multicollinearity between independent variables
Q: Can you provide some tips for interpreting R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
A: Here are some tips for interpreting R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²):
- R² measures the proportion of the variance in the dependent variable that is predictable from the independent variables.
- The square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) measures the proportion of the variance in one independent variable that is predictable from the dependent variable.
- A high value of R² indicates a good fit of the model to the data.
- A high value of the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) indicates a strong linear relationship between the dependent variable and one independent variable.
Q: What are some common applications of R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
A: R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²) are commonly used in a variety of applications, including:
- Regression analysis
- Time series analysis
- Forecasting
- Predictive modeling
- Data mining
Q: Can you provide some resources for learning more about R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²)?
A: Here are some resources for learning more about R² and the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²):
- Books: "Regression Analysis" by John Neter, William Wasserman, and Michael H. Kutner, "Time Series Analysis" by George E.P. Box, Gwilym M. Jenkins, and Gregory C. Reinsel
- Online courses: "Regression Analysis" on Coursera, "Time Series Analysis" on edX
- Research papers: "R² and the Square of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient" by John Neter, William Wasserman, and Michael H. Kutner, "Time Series Analysis" by George E.P. Box, Gwilym M. Jenkins, and Gregory C. Reinsel