John finds the Pearson r correlation coefficient between variable A and variable B to be 0.00.Before concluding there is no relationship between the variables,John should
A) use a different set of participants.
B) restrict the range from which he samples.
C) construct a scatterplot of the data.
D) calculate the effect size for the relationship.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Constructing a scatterplot of the data is necessary to visually inspect the relationship between the variables. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.00 indicates no linear relationship between the variables, but there could still be a non-linear relationship or a relationship that is masked by outliers or non-normality. Therefore, it is essential to visualize the data using a scatterplot to make sure there is no relationship. A and B are not appropriate choices since changing the sample does not necessarily change the relationship, and restricting the range could eliminate potential relationships. D is not necessary since the coefficient already indicates no relationship.

John Finds the Pearson R Correlation Coefficient Between Variable a and Variable