ASSIGNMENT
Correlation = -0.57
1.0
0.0
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$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 Standard of Living (GNIkap)
Data: united Nations
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This chart shows the countries of the world by (1) the typical family size, measured as the average number of children per woman, also known as the total fertility rate (TFR), and (2) the standard of living, measured as gross national income per capita (an indicator of economic strength), which can be used to categorize countries as high-, middle-, and low-income. The correlation coefficient for these two sets of numbers is -0.57.
Explain what this means in terms of both the strength and the direction of the relationship. Describe the spread of the data points in this scatterplot and how they relate to the fit line that has been drawn through them.
What would the correlation coefficient be if the two variables were not at all correlated, and what would be the position of the fit line (horizontal, diagonal, vertical)?
What is the relationship between the average family size and the standard of living within a country?
What appears to happen to the TFR with even a modest increase from the lowest living standards? Or is it the other way around: which do you think changes first as societies transition from larger families and lower living standards to smaller families and higher living standards?
What conclusions about global economic development and future population growth might you come to from this relationship?
Keep in mind that the dots on the chart are countries–not households, families or individual women. Write at least three paragraphs for your answer.
