A correlation coefficient r that is close to -0.5 or 0.5 indicates what level of correlation?

A correlation coefficient r that is close to -0.5 or 0.5 indicates what level of correlation?

• A. Close to -1 or 1
• B. Approximately -0.5 or 0.5
• C. 0.0
• D. Greater than 1

Answer: (B)

The correlation coefficient r tells us both the direction and strength of a linear relationship, with values between -1 and 1. When r is around -0.5 or 0.5, that shows a moderate relationship: there is a noticeable pattern, but it isn’t very tight, so predictions from a line wouldn’t be highly precise. The sign indicates direction—negative means one variable tends to increase as the other decreases, positive means they move together. A value near -1 or 1 would be a strong relationship, not moderate, while a value near 0 would indicate little to no linear relationship. Values greater than 1 are not possible for r. So describing the correlation as approximately -0.5 or 0.5 captures a moderate, detectable relationship.

The correlation coefficient r tells us both the direction and strength of a linear relationship, with values between -1 and 1. When r is around -0.5 or 0.5, that shows a moderate relationship: there is a noticeable pattern, but it isn’t very tight, so predictions from a line wouldn’t be highly precise. The sign indicates direction—negative means one variable tends to increase as the other decreases, positive means they move together. A value near -1 or 1 would be a strong relationship, not moderate, while a value near 0 would indicate little to no linear relationship. Values greater than 1 are not possible for r. So describing the correlation as approximately -0.5 or 0.5 captures a moderate, detectable relationship.