Crosstabs and Elaboration Models in Research Methods

Confounding variable

An extraneous variable affecting the focal relationship.

Extraneous variable

A variable that influences the dependent variable.

Intervening variable

A variable that mediates the relationship between IV and DV.

Conditional variable

A variable that moderates the relationship between IV and DV.

Focal relationship

The primary relationship being studied, X to Y.

Bivariate table

Displays distribution of one variable across another.

Column variable

Variable represented in the columns of a bivariate table.

Row variable

Variable represented in the rows of a bivariate table.

Cell

Intersection of a row and column in a table.

Marginals

Totals for rows and columns in a bivariate table.

Independent variable

The variable manipulated to observe effects on DV.

Dependent variable

The outcome variable affected by the IV.

Positive relationship

Both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative relationship

One variable increases while the other decreases.

Elaboration

Exploring a bivariate relationship by introducing control variables.

Control variable

A third variable accounted for in a bivariate analysis.

Spurious relationship

Relationship explained by a third variable, not causal.

Partial tables

Show relationships while controlling for a third variable.

Intervening relationship

Control variable lies between IV and DV in causation.

Conditional relationship

Effect of IV on DV varies by control variable.

Interaction effect

Change in relationship due to interaction of variables.

Replication

Partial relationship mirrors original relationship in analysis.

Specification

Partial relationships differ significantly from each other.

Antecedent variable

A variable that precedes the focal relationship.

Health behavior

Actions taken that influence health outcomes.

Frequency table

Displays counts of occurrences for variable categories.

Causal sequence

Order of variables in a cause-effect relationship.

Sample size

Total number of observations in the study.