Question

A researcher conducts a correlation between 1) income and the number of years in school, and 2) the number of close friends one has and their level of depression. She finds correlation coefficients of .47 and -.60, respectively. Tell me what these results mean.
1. Correlation #1
2. Correlation #2

Answer 1

Answer:

Correlation 1 between income & number of years in school is moderate positive. Correlation 2 between number of close friends & depression level is  moderate negative correlation.

Explanation:

Correlation is a statistical measure showing relationship between variables' direction of movement. It lies between 0 &1.

Positive Correlation means variables move in same direction, one variable increase implies other variable increase & vice versa.

Correlation 1 between income & number of years in school is positive correlation. So, higher income implies more years in school & vice versa.

Negative Correlation means variables move in opposite direction, one variable decrease implies other variable increase & vice versa.

Correlation 2 between number of close friends & depression level is negative correlation. So, more close friends imply lower depression level & vice versa.

Correlation 1 is moderate positive correlation (between 0.25 & 0.75). Correlation 2 is also moderate negative correlation (between -0.25 & -0.75)