What is also called a moderating variable and can weaken or strengthen the effect of the independent on the dependent variables?

• Moderating Variable
  • Moderating Variable Example
  • Properties of Moderating Variables
    • A) Moderating variables can be qualitative or quantitative.
    • B) Moderating variables can affect the relationship between an independent and dependent variable in a variety of ways.
  • Moderating Variable MCQs
    • Which of the following is true with regard to moderating variables in attitude relationships?
    • Some factors are called moderating variables because they:

Moderating variables influence the relationship between independent and dependent variables by modifying the effect of the intervening variables. Moderator variables, unlike extraneous variables, are measured and considered. Studies in TESL and language acquisition often include moderator variables (when they’re not the main focus of the research) such as the sex of the subjects, their age, their culture, or their level of English proficiency.

In statistics, a moderator variable, commonly referred to as M, is a third variable that influences the strength of the relationship between two independent variables. A moderator is a third variable that influences the correlation between two variables. An important distinction should be made between the moderating and the interaction effects. Using interaction effects, model hypotheses that are not necessarily causal in nature are tested.

The moderation effect is used to test model hypotheses that are causal in nature. Interaction effect relates to moderation effect, but moderation effect does not necessarily relate to interaction effect. When the relationship between a predictor variable and a dependent variable is strong, a moderator variable can be used, but it is most often used when the relationship between the two variables is unexpectedly weak or inconsistent.

Using moderation analysis, you can determine whether the effects of an intervention are similar across groups. When a program is disseminated to a whole group containing both males and females, it would be crucial to show that intervention effects are obtained between the two sexes. The consistency of an intervention effect across subgroups also supports the generalizability of an intervention. A strong theoretical foundation should underpin the selection of moderating variables.

An explanation and prior theoretical support must be provided for why a particular variable is likely to affect the hypothesized relationships between the constructs. Depending on the type of moderating variable, moderating variables can be at a ratio, interval or continuous level, as well as categorical. A moderator, however, is not to have any relationship with the constructs under study, unlike mediating variables, where the mediator must be related to both constructs. Mediation refers to the indirect effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable passing through the mediator variable.

Moderating Variable Example

• According to the American Psychological Association, stress has a bigger impact on men than women.
• Another example of a moderating variable could be age. It’s likely that each extra hour of exercise causes resting heart rate to drop more for younger people compared to older people.

Properties of Moderating Variables

A) Moderating variables can be qualitative or quantitative.

i) Qualitative variables are variables that take on names or labels.

Examples:

• Gender (Male or Female)
• Education Level (High School Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, etc.)
• Marital Status (Single, Married, Divorced)

ii) Quantitative variables are variables that take on numerical values.

Examples :

• Age
• Height
• Square Footage
• Population Size

B) Moderating variables can affect the relationship between an independent and dependent variable in a variety of ways.

• Strengthen the relationship between two variables.
• Weaken the relationship between two variables.
• Negate the relationship between two variables.
• Depending on the situation, a moderating variable can moderate the relationship between two variables in many different ways.

Also Read This Article: Intervening Variables

Moderating Variable MCQs

Which of the following is true with regard to moderating variables in attitude relationships?

Some factors are called moderating variables because they:

What variable is needed to strengthen or weaken the dependent variable?

What are moderating variables?

Does a moderating variable affect the strength of the relationship between an independent and dependent variable?

Is a moderating variable An independent variable?