When interested in the relationship between two continuous variables, some researchers will dichotomize one of them prior to analysis. I generally discourage such dichotomization, but the practice is common. A colleague asked me today about the practice of dichotomizing by a median split (top half versus bottom half) versus the practice of using only the tails (bottom third versus top third, for example). I outlined my thoughts on this matter and noted that I vaguely recall having read an article or two on this matter long ago, but cannot put my finger on the article(s). Can any of you all?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karl L. Wuensch, Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville NC 27858-4353 Voice: 252-328-4102 Fax: 252-328-6283 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/klw.htm <http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/klw.htm> . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
