välittäjämuuttujien
Välittäjämuuttuja, often translated as mediator variable or intermediary variable, is a concept used in statistics and social sciences to explain the relationship between two other variables. It acts as a bridge, clarifying how an independent variable (the cause) influences a dependent variable (the effect). Essentially, the independent variable affects the mediator variable, and the mediator variable then affects the dependent variable. Without the mediator, the direct link between the independent and dependent variable might be weak or non-existent.
For example, consider the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. Socioeconomic status might be the
Identifying mediator variables is crucial for understanding causal pathways and developing effective interventions. Researchers use statistical