Excerpt from a research article

Participants in this study were a volunteer sample of full-time undergraduate students at a small, private, liberal arts college in South Africa.

We measured depression symptomatology by using the CES-D. The CES-D is a 20-item, 4- point Likert scale commonly used to assess depressive symptomatology in the general population. Scores range from 0 to 60; a score of 16 or greater is considered positive for depression.

We assessed self-esteem by using the RSES, which is aI0-item, 4-point Likert scale considered a reliable and valid self-report scale commonly used to assess feelings of self-worth. The range of possible scores is 10 to 40; the higher the score, the higher the self-reported self-esteem.

The SCS-R is a 20-item, 6-point Likert scale used to "measure social connectedness as a psychological sense of belonging." Scores are summated and range from 20 to 120. Higher scores indicate greater levels of social connectedness and belongingness.

Table 1

Pearson's Product Moment Correlations Between the Dependent Measures (n = 227)

Measure	Depression	Social connectedness
Self-esteem	-.372	.414
Depression	--	-.619

Armstrong & Oomen-Early, 2009

17. What is the value of the correlation coefficient for the relationship between "Depression" and "Self-esteem"?

18. Which one of the following pairs of variables has a stronger relationship between them?

A. Depression and Social connectedness

B. Depression and Self-esteem

19. Which one of the following pairs of variables has a weaker relationship between them?

A. Self-esteem and Social connectedness

B. Self-esteem and Depression

20. The correlation coefficient for the relationship between Depression and Self-esteem indicates which of the following?

A. Those who experience more Depression tend to have higher Self-esteem.

B. Those who experience more Depression tend to have lower Self-esteem.

21. In your opinion, does the Pearson r of -.372 prove that high depression causes lower self-esteem?