for which of the following Pearson r's would the data points be clustered most closely around a straight line?

Question

r = 0.72

r =-0.65

r = 0.10

r = 1.33

 

Answer 1

Pearson's correlation coefficient, r, is a measure of the linear dependence (correlation) between two variables. It varies from 1 to -1. As r approaches 1 or -1, it means that the linear correlation is stronger. So, among the r values you are given, 1.33 is eliminated (1.33>1). Among the three left, 0.72, the highest r value, would indicate the most linear correlation between the two variables.