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Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
antecedent variable - A control variable that is temporally prior to both the independent and dependent variables and influences both of them.
C
control variable - A variable that we hold constant when we examine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
I
independent effect - The effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable when holding additional explanatory variables constant.
intervening variable - A control variable that intervenes between X and Y. Also called a mediating variable.
M
mediating variable - Another term for an intervening variable; a control variable that intervenes between the independent and dependent variables.
moderating variable - A control variable that affects the relationship between the independent and dependent variable such that the magnitude of the relationship varies depending on the value of the moderating variable.
moderation - A relationship between variables in which the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable varies, depending on the value of the control, or moderating, variable. This is also called statistical interaction.
N
non-spurious relationship - A relationship between an independent and a dependent variable that persists even after the introduction of another explanatory variable.
S
spurious relationship - A relationship between independent and dependent variables that disappears or weakens substantially when we introduce a control variable.
statistical interaction - Occurs when the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable varies, depending on the value of the control, or moderating, variable. Also called moderation.
