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Partial correlation calculator

Measure the linear relationship between X and Y after statistically removing the effect of one control variable Z.

Partial correlation r(X,Y·Z): —

Fill in the fields above — the result is computed on this page.

Observations
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Raw X–Y correlation
—
X–Z correlation
—
Y–Z correlation
—
r² after controlling Z
—

X and Y residuals after controlling Z

Each point shows what remains of X and Y after their linear relationship with Z is removed.

Coefficient comparison

Coefficient Value
Fill in the fields above — the result is computed on this page.
What do these numbers mean?
  • A positive value means an increasing relationship after controlling Z; a negative value means a decreasing one.
  • r² describes shared variance between residuals, not between the full variables.

All series must have equal length and variation. The model controls one variable and describes linear relationships only.

How do I use this page?
  1. Paste X, Y and Z in matching observation order.
  2. Compare raw and partial correlations.
  3. Inspect the residual plot and possible outliers.

What this page does not do: All series must have equal length and variation. The model controls one variable and describes linear relationships only.

Further reading

Theory — what is partial correlation?

Partial correlation answers how strongly X and Y are linearly related once the influence of a third control variable Z has been statistically removed. The calculator first regresses X on Z and Y on Z, then computes an ordinary Pearson correlation between the resulting residuals. Unlike ordinary correlation, which uses raw X and Y values, partial correlation strips the linear effect of Z out of both variables before comparing them. This reveals a relationship not driven simply by both variables sharing a link to Z.

Frequently asked questions

How does partial correlation differ from ordinary correlation?
Ordinary correlation uses raw X and Y. Partial correlation removes the linear effect of Z from both variables.
Does a high partial correlation prove causation?
No. It shows an association after controlling Z but does not rule out other variables or reverse causation.

See also

← All calculators

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