Final answer:
Removing potential outliers in the data can either strengthen or weaken the apparent strength of the association.
Step-by-step explanation:
Removing potential outliers in the data can have an impact on the apparent strength of the association. In some cases, removing outliers can make the association stronger, while in other cases, it can make the association weaker. It depends on how the outlier is influencing the data set. The removal of an outlier may affect the correlation coefficient (r-value) and the fit of the linear relationship. To determine the effect of removing an outlier, regression analysis and comparing regression lines can be used.