What does a correlation of .68 in a research study indicate about independent and dependent variables?

A correlation of .68 indicates a moderate to strong positive relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the research study. This means that as one variable increases, the other variable also tends to increase. The value of .68 suggests that there is a consistent pattern where the two variables tend to occur together, indicating that they have a degree of association.

While it's not accurate to say they occur together exactly 68% of the time, the correlation coefficient reflects the strength and direction of the relationship rather than a percentage of occurrence. Essentially, the closer the value is to 1 or -1, the stronger the relationship, and a .68 correlation indicates a significant tendency for the variables to be related positively.

Understanding this correlation also supports recognizing that while a correlation suggests relationship strength and direction, it does not imply causality; hence, the conclusion drawn does not establish that one variable causes the changes in the other. The correct answer highlights the nature of the relationship without overstating the specifics of occurrence or inferring direct causation.