A random sample of n = 347 students was selected, and each one was asked to complete several questionnaires, from which a Coping Humor Scale value x and a Depression Scale value y were determined (“Depression and Sense of Humor,” (Psychological Reports [1994]: 1473– 1474). The resulting value of the sample correlation coefficient was 2.18.
a. The investigators reported that P-value < .05. Do you agree?
b. Is the sign of r consistent with your intuition? Explain. (Higher scale values correspond to more developed sense of humor and greater extent of depression.)
c. Would the simple linear regression model give accurate predictions? Why or why not?