Final answer:
The Pearson correlation with the greatest strength is r = -0.90, reflecting a very strong negative linear relationship, as strength is determined by the correlation coefficient's closeness to 1 or -1, not the sign.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pearson correlation that shows the greatest strength or consistency of relationship is r = –0.90. Correlation coefficients range from -1 to 1, where values close to -1 or 1 indicate a strong relationship, regardless of the sign. Hence, the negative sign of r does not imply a weak relationship, but rather the direction of the relationship, with -1 being a perfect negative correlation and 1 being a perfect positive correlation.
When comparing the given options, the value of -0.90 is closest to -1, demonstrating a stronger relationship than the positive correlation of +0.85 or +0.74, and significantly stronger than -0.33. It's critical to understand that whether the coefficient is positive or negative, what determines the strength is how close the number is to 1 or -1. Thus, both -0.90 and +0.90 would represent a strong correlation, but with opposite directions.