Question

What does the Pearson correlation coefficient evaluate?

1) The strength of the linear relationship between two variables
2) The direction of the linear relationship between two variables
3) The significance of the linear relationship between two variables
4) The causality of the linear relationship between two variables

Answer 1

1) The strength of the linear relationship between two variables.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pearson's correlation coefficient can not determine the direction, significance, or causality of the linear relationship between two variables. All it does is provide a numerical value to determine whether or not two variables are related; the strength of the relationship.

Answer 2

The Pearson correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables, with values ranging from -1 to +1, but does not imply causation or assess significance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Pearson correlation coefficient evaluates the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. A value of 'r' closer to -1 or +1 indicates a stronger relationship, while a value close to 0 indicates a weaker one. The sign of 'r' tells us the direction: positive for variables that move together and negative for those that move inversely. It is important to note that the correlation coefficient does not assess the significance or causality of the relationship; this involves statistical hypothesis testing and experimental design, respectively. When considering the correlation reported by 'r', we must also consider the sample size 'n' to evaluate the reliability of the linear model.