# Correlation between numeric and ordinal variables

What test can I use to test correlation between an ordinal and a numeric variable? I think linear regression (taking numeric variable as outcome) or ordinal regression (taking ordinal variable as outcome) can be done but none of them is really an outcome or dependent variable. Which test can I use here? Will Pearson's, Spearman's or Kendall's correlation work here? Thanks for your insight.

• So the predictor variable can have a series of values, which can be set in order, but it makes no sense to calculate differences (like kindergarten, primary school, high school, college) and the predicted variable is a continuous variable, varying within a range, right? – Dirk Horsten Jul 23 '15 at 13:07
• And all you want to proof is that there is a dependency, you are not trying to model anything? – Dirk Horsten Jul 23 '15 at 13:22
• Yes, I want to determine correlation between class (like kindergarten etc) and age, but dependency and I am not trying to model anything. – rnso Jul 23 '15 at 13:29
• Please visit stats.stackexchange.com/q/103253/3277 which shows some of possible ways. – ttnphns Jul 23 '15 at 13:31
• That is a very useful link on this topic. I am not restricting to non-parametric methods and would like to know if there are any parametric methods also. – rnso Jul 24 '15 at 3:38

proc glm data=myTable;