Antecedent variable

In statistics and social sciences, an antecedent variable is a variable that can help to explain the apparent relationship (or part of the relationship) between other variables that are nominally in a cause and effect relationship. In a regression analysis, an antecedent variable would be one that influences both the independent variable and the dependent variable.

See also

• Path analysis (statistics)
• Latent variable
• Intervening variable

References

Olobatuyi M.E. (2006) A user's guide to path analysis, University Press of America. ISBN 0761832300 (Chapter 2)