Question

Which of the following correlation (Pearson r) coefficients would give you the most precise prediction?

A. r= 0.80
B. r= -0.60
C. r= 0.45
D. r= -0.85

Answer 1

The correlation coefficient that would give the most precise prediction is D. r= -0.85, as it has the highest absolute value indicating the strongest linear relationship among the given options.

Step-by-step explanation:

Out of the correlation (Pearson r) coefficients provided, the one that would give the most precise prediction is D. r= -0.85. The Pearson correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. The coefficient can range from -1 to 1, with -1 indicating a perfect negative linear relationship, 1 indicating a perfect positive linear relationship, and 0 indicating no linear relationship.

Therefore, a value of r= -0.85 indicates a stronger linear relationship than r= 0.80, r= -0.60, or r= 0.45. It does not matter if the correlation is negative or positive; what is most important is the absolute value of the correlation coefficient. Since 0.85 has the highest absolute value among the options, it offers the most precise prediction capability as it suggests a stronger linear relationship between the variables.