Computing Correlation Coefficients MCQs

Computing Correlation Coefficients MCQs

Our team has conducted extensive research to compile a set of Computing Correlation Coefficients MCQs. We encourage you to test your Computing Correlation Coefficients knowledge by answering these 20 multiple-choice questions provided below.
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1: In general, a negative correlation means that as the values of one variable ______, there is a tendency for the values of the other variable to ______.

A.   Increase; increase

B.   Increase; remain the same

C.   Increase; decrease

D.   Decrease; decrease

2: Using a correlational design, a researcher found a relationship between the healthiness of one’s heart and the amount of fish oil in one’s diet. The researcher should conclude that ______.

A.   A healthier heart causes one to consume more fish oil

B.   The amount of fish oil in one’s diet causes a healthier heart

C.   Although a relationship exists, one cannot infer that changes in one variable are causing changes in the other variable

D.   The availability of fish causes changes in both the healthiness of one’s heart and the amount of fish oil consumed

3: What does a correlation coefficient do?

A.   It allows us to draw conclusions about whether one variable causes another variable.

B.   It creates a correlational design, rather than an experimental design.

C.   It quantifies the pattern in a relationship.

D.   It summarizes the X scores and the Y scores separately.

4: In an experimental design ______, whereas in a correlational design ______.

A.   There is only one variable (the independent variable); there are two variables (X and Y)

B.   There are two X variables; there are an X and a Y variable

C.   Researchers assign each person an X score and then measure the score on the Y variable; researchers measure scores on variables that a participant has already experienced

D.   Researchers measure scores on variables that a participant has already experienced; researchers assign each person an X score and then measure the score on the Y variable

5: A ______ variable comes between two variables of interest and explains the apparent relationship and a ______ variable affects both our variables of interest and explains the correlation between them.

A.   Mediating; confounding

B.   Moderating; confounding

C.   Mediating; confusing

D.   Confounding; mediating

6: If we calculate a correlation coefficient and we find that there is a relationship between the two variables, we ______.

A.   Know that the data must be interval or ratio

B.   Know, without referring to the study, that a correlational design was used

C.   Can conclude that changes in one variable cause changes in the other variable

D.   Cannot conclude that changes in one variable cause changes in the other variable

7: In general, a positive correlation means that as the values of one variable ______, there is a tendency for the values of the other variable to ______.

A.   Increase; increase

B.   Increase; remain the same

C.   Increase; decrease

D.   Decrease; increase

8: When looking at how one variable changes another variable, which of the following descriptive statistics would you want to use?

A.   Mean

B.   Variance

C.   Correlation

D.   Standard deviation

9: When plotting correlational data, the appropriate graph to use is the ______.

A.   Line graph

B.   Histogram

C.   Bar graph

D.   Scatterplot

10: Correlation coefficients are used to describe what?

A.   A group

B.   Individuals

C.   Individuals as well as the group

D.   It depends on the correlation coefficient used.

11: The best-fitting line through a scatterplot is known as the ______.

A.   Scatterplot line

B.   Variance line

C.   Correlation line

D.   Regression line

12: In a correlational analysis, N stands for the ______.

A.   Total number of pairs of scores

B.   Total number of X scores plus the total number of Y scores

C.   Total number of X scores times the total number of Y scores

D.   Total number of pairs of scores minus 2

13: Which of the following refers to a correlation between two variables?

A.   Bi-correlate

B.   Bivariate

C.   Two-way variance

D.   Two-way analysis

14: To know whether there is a relationship between two variables, you draw a line around the outer edges of a scatterplot. If there is a negative relationship, ______.

A.   The scatterplot is simultaneously elliptical and circular

B.   The scatterplot is elliptical and is slanted upward (left to right)

C.   The scatterplot is elliptical and is slanted downward (left to right)

D.   The scatterplot is either circular or elliptical, and the ellipse is parallel to the X axis

15: We should do a scatterplot of the data when we compute a correlation because the scatterplot allows us to ______.

A.   See the relationship between the two variables

B.   Determine the exact value of the correlation coefficient

C.   Determine whether a relationship is likely to exist in the population from which the sample is taken

D.   Predict accurate Y scores for known X scores

16: In which index correlation coefficient that reflects the relationship between two variables?

A.   Physical

B.   Numerical

C.   Chemical

D.   All of these

17: Correlation coefficient that reflects the relationship between two variables, specifically how the value of one variable changes when the value of the other variable changes.

A.   True

B.   False

18: A positive correlation where the values of both variables change in the same direction is called

A.   Direct correlation

B.   Indirect correlation

C.   Constant

D.   All of these

19: Direct correlation is ____ correlation

A.   Positive

B.   Negative

C.   Constant

D.   None

20: A negative correlation where the values of variables move in opposite direction is called

A.   Direct correlation

B.   Indirect correlation

C.   Constant

D.   All of these

21: A ____ correlation where the values of variables move in opposite directions.

A.   Positive

B.   Negative

C.   Constant

D.   None

22: Scatter plot is of paired data points on an x-axis and a y-axis, used to visually represent a correlation.

A.   True

B.   False

23: In which plot of paired data points on an x-axis and a y-axis, used to visually represent a correlation?

A.   Scatter plot

B.   Scattergram

C.   Scattered

D.   All of these

24: A correlation that is best expressed visually as a straight line is called

A.   Linear correlation

B.   Correlation matrix

C.   Nonlinear correlation

D.   All of these

25: A table showing correlation coefficients among more than two variables is called

A.   Linear correlation

B.   Correlation matrix

C.   Nonlinear correlation

D.   All of these

26: Coefficient of determination is the amount of variance in one variable that is accounted for by the variance in another variable.

A.   True

B.   False

27: Coefficient of alienation is the amount of variance in one variable that is not accounted for by the variance in another variable.

A.   True

B.   False

28: Coefficient of alienation is coefficient of nondetermination

A.   True

B.   False

29: A numerical index that reflects the relationship between two variables with the removal of the influence of a third variable is called

A.   Linear correlation

B.   Correlation matrix

C.   Nonlinear correlation

D.   Partial correlation