What best defines a regression model?

What best defines a regression model?

• A. a line on a scatterplot.
• B. the relationship between two variables.
• C. a statistical model describing the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.
• D. a test comparing group means.

Answer: (C)

Regression models describe how a dependent variable changes as one or more independent variables change. This is a formal statistical model that specifies an equation linking predictors to the outcome, estimates how much each predictor affects the dependent variable, and enables both prediction and inference. A line on a scatterplot is a visual representation of a simple regression, not the full definition of the model. Saying it’s just the relationship between two variables is too vague because it doesn’t specify which variable is predicted, which are predictors, or the modeling form. A test that compares group means focuses on differences between groups, not on modeling a relationship with predictors.

Regression models describe how a dependent variable changes as one or more independent variables change. This is a formal statistical model that specifies an equation linking predictors to the outcome, estimates how much each predictor affects the dependent variable, and enables both prediction and inference. A line on a scatterplot is a visual representation of a simple regression, not the full definition of the model. Saying it’s just the relationship between two variables is too vague because it doesn’t specify which variable is predicted, which are predictors, or the modeling form. A test that compares group means focuses on differences between groups, not on modeling a relationship with predictors.