Scatterplots are a method of visualizing statistical correlations.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Visualizing the relationship between two quantitative variables is what a scatterplot does best. By placing one variable on the horizontal axis and the other on the vertical axis, you can see how they vary together. If the points tend to rise together, the relationship is positive; if one tends to fall as the other rises, it’s negative. The closeness of the points to a straight line also shows the strength of the association—the tighter the cluster around a line, the stronger the correlation. Scatterplots can reveal linear patterns, curved patterns, or no discernible pattern at all, and they can also highlight outliers that might influence the relationship.

So this statement is correct because a scatterplot provides a direct visual sense of how two numerical variables relate, which is exactly what correlation describes. Keep in mind that seeing a pattern visually doesn’t prove causation, and a scatterplot for two variables won’t capture relationships that involve more variables unless you stratify or add dimensions. The other options don’t fit because scatterplots are routinely used to visualize correlations, and they aren’t only applicable in rare or unrelated cases.