In quantitative research, inferential statistics are numerical values that enable a researcher to reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone. Which inferential statistic tests the relationship between two variables?

Choice A reason: ANOVA is used to compare means across three or more groups to determine if there are statistically significant differences. It does not test the relationship between two variables but rather differences among group means. Choice B reason: A t-test compares the means of two groups to determine if they are statistically different. It is useful for hypothesis testing but does not measure the strength or direction of a relationship between two continuous variables. Choice C reason: The p-value indicates the probability that the observed results occurred by chance. It is a component of hypothesis testing but not a statistic that directly measures relationships between variables. Choice D reason: Pearson’s r correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two continuous variables. It ranges from -1 to +1 and is the most appropriate inferential statistic for testing relationships between two variables.