The direct effect is defined as the effect of a predictor variable on an outcome variable when a mediator is included.

The direct effect is defined as the effect of a predictor variable on an outcome variable when a mediator is included.

• A. Indirect effect
• B. DFFit
• C. Direct effect
• D. Diagonal

Answer: (C)

In mediation analysis, the direct effect refers to the impact of the predictor on the outcome after accounting for the mediator. This is the portion of the X→Y relationship that remains once the mediator’s influence is included in the model. It shows how much Y would change with a unit change in X when the mediator is held constant. The indirect effect, by contrast, is the portion that operates through the mediator (the X→M path times the M→Y path). The total effect is the sum of direct and indirect effects. Other terms like DFFit are regression diagnostics and aren’t about mediation paths, and “diagonal” isn’t a standard term here. So the statement matches the definition of the direct effect.

In mediation analysis, the direct effect refers to the impact of the predictor on the outcome after accounting for the mediator. This is the portion of the X→Y relationship that remains once the mediator’s influence is included in the model. It shows how much Y would change with a unit change in X when the mediator is held constant.

The indirect effect, by contrast, is the portion that operates through the mediator (the X→M path times the M→Y path). The total effect is the sum of direct and indirect effects. Other terms like DFFit are regression diagnostics and aren’t about mediation paths, and “diagonal” isn’t a standard term here.

So the statement matches the definition of the direct effect.