Final answer:
The correlation coefficient, often denoted as r, measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables. Values close to 1 or -1 indicate a strong relationship, while values near 0 show a weak relationship. Answer B, how strong the relationship in data is, correctly describes what the coefficient indicates. Therefore correct option is B
Step-by-step explanation:
The coefficient in question refers to the correlation coefficient, often represented by the letter r. It is a statistical measurement of the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. The value of the correlation coefficient ranges from -1 to 1. A coefficient close to 1 or -1 means a strong linear relationship, where the variables move together (positive coefficient) or in opposite directions (negative coefficient). The closer the coefficient is to 0, the weaker the linear relationship between the variables.
For example, a correlation coefficient of 0.9 shows a much stronger relationship than a correlation coefficient of 0.3. The strength is quantified further by the coefficient of determination, r², which shows the proportion of the variance for the dependent variable that's explained by the independent variable in the linear model. A correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no linear relationship at all between the variables.
In sum, the correct answer to the student's question is B. The coefficient shows how strong the relationship in data is.