Choose the most appropriate completion of the sentence. In order to indicate a strong correlation between variables, the correlation coefficient will be near - 1 near 0 near \( 1 / 2 \) near 1 near -1 or 1 near 10

A strong correlation between variables is indicated by a correlation coefficient that is near 1 or near -1. This means that as one variable increases or decreases, the other variable tends to follow suit in a predictable manner, either positively (near 1) or negatively (near -1). A value near 0 suggests little to no linear relationship at all. In real-world scenarios, such as in economics or health studies, recognizing these correlation strengths can help researchers and analysts make informed predictions or decisions based on the data. For instance, a correlation near -1 could imply that as unemployment rates rise, consumer spending falls, providing valuable insights for policymakers.