scatterplot: Interpretation of a Scatterplot

Exercise template for assessing the interpretation of a randomly-generated scatterplot regarding the joint and marginal distributions.

Name:
scatterplot
Type:
Preview:

The following figure shows a scatterplot. Which of the following statements are correct?

  • False. No association between the variables is observed in the scatterplot. This implies a correlation coefficient close to \(0\).
  • False. The slope of the regression line is given by \(r \cdot s_y/s_x\) and hence not about equal to \(1\).
  • False. The standard deviation of \(Y\) is about equal to \(1\) and is therefore smaller than \(6\).
  • True. The regression line at \(X=0.3\) implies a value of about \(Y = 0\).
  • True. The mean of \(X\) is about equal to \(0\) and hence is smaller than \(5\).

The following figure shows a scatterplot. Which of the following statements are correct?

  • True. The mean of \(Y\) is about equal to \(100\) and hence is larger than \(30\).
  • False. The regression line at \(X=-28.7\) implies a value of about \(Y = 100.7\).
  • False. The slope of the regression line is given by \(r \cdot s_y/s_x\) and hence not about equal to \(1\).
  • True. The standard deviation of \(Y\) is about equal to \(10\) and is therefore larger than \(6\).
  • False. Only a slightly positive association between the variables is observable in the scatterplot. This implies a correlation coefficient with an absolute value smaller than \(0.8\).

The following figure shows a scatterplot. Which of the following statements are correct?

  • False. The scatterplot is not standardized, because \(X\) and \(Y\) do not both have mean \(0\) and variance \(1\).
  • True. The mean of \(Y\) is about equal to \(60\) and hence is larger than \(30\).
  • True. The standard deviation of \(Y\) is about equal to \(20\) and is therefore larger than \(6\).
  • False. Only a slightly positive association between the variables is observable in the scatterplot. This implies a correlation coefficient with an absolute value smaller than \(0.8\).
  • True. The regression line at \(X=18\) implies a value of about \(Y = 58\).
Description:
Scatterplot in an (x, y) regression setup needs to be interpreted regarding location/spread of the marginal distributions, the correlation in the joint distribution, and the corresponding regression slope. Data are drawn randomly from a suitable data-generating process so that each multiple-choice item is either about correct or clearly wrong.
Solution feedback:
Yes
Randomization:
Random numbers, text blocks, and graphics
Mathematical notation:
No
Verbatim R input/output:
No
Images:
Yes
Other supplements:
No
Raw: (1 random version)
PDF:
scatterplot-Rmd-pdf
scatterplot-Rnw-pdf
HTML:
scatterplot-Rmd-html
scatterplot-Rnw-html

Demo code:

library("exams")

set.seed(403)
exams2html("scatterplot.Rmd")
set.seed(403)
exams2pdf("scatterplot.Rmd")

set.seed(403)
exams2html("scatterplot.Rnw")
set.seed(403)
exams2pdf("scatterplot.Rnw")