What is the range of values for a correlational coefficient?

The correlational coefficient ranges from -1.0 to 1.0. This range indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables. A value of 1.0 signifies a perfect positive correlation, meaning as one variable increases, the other also increases consistently. Conversely, a value of -1.0 indicates a perfect negative correlation, where an increase in one variable corresponds to a decrease in the other. Values closer to 0 suggest weaker correlations, indicating little to no linear relationship between the variables. Thus, the true range of a correlational coefficient allows researchers to gauge both the degree and direction of correlation effectively, reflecting the full spectrum of relationships that can exist between two sets of data.