In calculating a Pearson correlation between two variables, you would examine the ______ to determine whether the relationship between the two variables is linear.
A) value of the correlation
B) level of significance of the correlation
C) scatterplot
D) descriptive statistics

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine if the relationship between two variables is linear, a scatterplot must be examined. The scatterplot allows us to visually inspect the data to see if the points fall in a linear pattern. The value of the correlation can tell us the strength and direction of the relationship, but it does not tell us whether the relationship is linear. The level of significance of the correlation tells us the likelihood that the relationship between the variables occurred by chance, but it also does not tell us if the relationship is linear. Descriptive statistics, such as means and standard deviations, provide information about the individual variables, but they do not give us insight into the linearity of the relationship between them.

In Calculating a Pearson Correlation Between Two Variables, You Would