Multiple regression vs partial correlation

[Susanbwh]

I have another question. I have only 40 patients and 5 domains (or factors) made of 16 (questionnaire) items. In order to get correlation coefficients controlling for age, is multiple regression better or partial correlation better to investigate the relationship between the outcome and these domains or factors? I know I can get corr coeff in both ways, but I do know in multiple regression analysis, I may not have enough people. I am not sure how partial corr works in SPSS. Could you give me a piece of advice?

 

[JohnM]

The small sample size will work against you no matter which method you use.

In effect, multiple regression is the same thing as partial regression, since the coefficients represent the effect of one factor, controlling for all other factors.