Covariate
Covariate
A Covariate (/koʊˈveɪriət/) is a variable that is potentially predictive of the outcome under study. In statistical analysis, a covariate may be of direct interest or it may be a confounding or interacting variable.
Etymology
The term "covariate" was first used in statistics by R.A. Fisher in the early 20th century. It is derived from the Latin words 'co-' meaning 'together' and 'variare' meaning 'to change'.
Definition
In Statistics, a Covariate represents a source of variability that has not been controlled in the experiment and is believed to affect the dependent variable. Covariates can be either continuous or categorical and are typically included in the model to improve precision, control confounding, or to examine interaction effects.
Related Terms
- Dependent variable
- Independent variable
- Confounding variable
- Interaction effect
- Continuous variable
- Categorical variable
Usage in Different Fields
In Epidemiology, covariates are often used in observational studies to adjust for potential confounding factors. In Clinical trials, covariates are used to adjust for differences between treatment groups that could affect the outcome of the study.
In Economics, covariates are used in regression analysis to control for variables that are not of primary interest but could influence the dependent variable.
See Also
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