Short Answer

A clinical researcher measures stressful life events and self-reported happiness in a cohort of patients and calculates a correlation coefficient of r=0.62r = -0.62. Applying the concept of negative correlation described in the text, what does the negative sign of this coefficient indicate about how a patient's happiness is expected to change if their stressful life events increase?

Question: A clinical researcher measures stressful life events and self-reported happiness in a cohort of patients and calculates a correlation coefficient of r=0.62r = -0.62. Applying the concept of negative correlation described in the text, what does the negative sign of this coefficient indicate about how a patient's happiness is expected to change if their stressful life events increase?

Sample answer: The negative sign indicates a negative correlation, meaning the variables move in opposite directions. Therefore, if a patient's stressful life events increase, their level of happiness is expected to decrease.

Key points:

  • Interpret the negative sign of r=0.62r = -0.62 as indicating a negative correlation.
  • Apply the principle that variables move in opposite directions to predict that an increase in stress is associated with a decrease in happiness.

Rubric: The answer must apply the concept of negative correlation to interpret the negative sign, explaining that an increase in stressful life events corresponds to an expected decrease in happiness.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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