Sociaalvariate

Sociaalvariate is a term used in Dutch-language social science and statistics to refer to a variable that captures social characteristics or social context relevant to a study. It is typically used as a covariate or predictor in statistical models to adjust for or examine the influence of social factors on outcomes. In English-language literature the concept is often described as a socio-demographic variable or social covariate; the exact term varies by discipline.

Common sociaalvariate examples include education level, income, occupation, marital status, household composition, ethnicity or race, religion, social support networks, and urbanicity. These variables help researchers account for social determinants that influence health, education, employment, or risk behaviors.

Data are collected via surveys, censuses, or administrative records; they may be measured at individual or group level; researchers must choose appropriate measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval) and handle missing data and potential measurement error. In analysis, sociaalvariate values are included in models (as predictors or covariates) to adjust associations, assess confounding, or test for interactions and effect modification; they can also define strata for stratified analyses.

Notes: while widely used, the term is less standardized than English equivalents; some sources prefer "socio-demographic variable" or "social covariate." Researchers should ensure cultural relevance and appropriate categorization to avoid bias.