Let’s look at a healthcare example where we are asked to predict someone’s blood pressure if you know their age and their cholesterol level. What we are saying is that blood pressure is correlated to the dynamics of two variables: age and cholesterol.
This is NOT the same thing as saying that blood pressure and cholesterol affect age. Or that blood pressure and age affect cholesterol levels.
Remember, to serve up success in a regression analysis we must understand that the dependent variable (response variable) is the one that is affected by the others. That is what correlation tells us, but affect is NOT a two way street. The independent variables (explanatory variables) are NOT affected by the dependent variable.
On a graph, the y axis charts the dependent (response) variable. The x axis charts the independent variables.
What do you think, what are 4 other examples of independent and dependent variable pairings from your OWN personal or professional life?
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