R help - Jan 2008 - Random Bernoulli sequences with given point-biserial correlation?

Dear R-listers,

Can someone suggest a method for generating a finite Bernoulli  
sequence that is likely to have a given point-biserial correlation  
with an existing Bernoulli sequence?
_____________________________
Professor Michael Kubovy
University of Virginia
Department of Psychology
USPS:     P.O.Box 400400    Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400
Parcels:    Room 102        Gilmer Hall
         McCormick Road    Charlottesville, VA 22903
Office:    B011    +1-434-982-4729
Lab:        B019    +1-434-982-4751
Fax:        +1-434-982-4766
WWW:    http://www.people.virginia.edu/~mk9y/

My understanding is that point-biserial correlations are measured
between a binary (bernouli) variable and a continuous (interval or ratio
scaled) variable.  Therefore by definition you cannot have a
point-biserial correlation between 2 bernoulli sequences.

If you clarify what you want (maybe give an example or partial example)
we can give better help.

-- 
Gregory (Greg) L. Snow Ph.D.
Statistical Data Center
Intermountain Healthcare
greg.snow at imail.org
(801) 408-8111
 
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-help-bounces at r-project.org 
> [mailto:r-help-bounces at r-project.org] On Behalf Of Michael Kubovy
> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 2:44 PM
> To: r-help at stat.math.ethz.ch
> Subject: [R] Random Bernoulli sequences with given 
> point-biserialcorrelation?
> 
> Dear R-listers,
> 
> Can someone suggest a method for generating a finite 
> Bernoulli sequence that is likely to have a given 
> point-biserial correlation with an existing Bernoulli sequence?
> _____________________________
> Professor Michael Kubovy
> University of Virginia
> Department of Psychology
> USPS:     P.O.Box 400400    Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400
> Parcels:    Room 102        Gilmer Hall
>          McCormick Road    Charlottesville, VA 22903
> Office:    B011    +1-434-982-4729
> Lab:        B019    +1-434-982-4751
> Fax:        +1-434-982-4766
> WWW:    http://www.people.virginia.edu/~mk9y/
> 
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide 
> http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
>