Links out = Links in. Check the math (please!)

From David Eaves of The SEO Company comes this cool if mathematically intimidating study of whether links out from mainstream media websites correlate with links back in.

According to the post:

(I)n general there is a strong relationship between news websites linking out and getting links in return.

There’s a wicked equation in there identified as the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient — say what? — and also a nifty chart:

Higher math and spreadsheets aside, though, this certainly lines up with our experience at The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. The equation is as simple as the one in the headline on this post.

And taking it a step further… Links in = the best kind of new traffic, people seeking content relevant to their interest at that moment. These are folks likely to pay a return visit if they find something they like.

Anyone have a contrary view?

(Thanks to Julie Starr of The Evolving Newsroom for the link.)