REGRESSION ANALYSIS
In statistics, regression analysis is a statistical process for
estimating the relationships among variables. It includes many techniques for
modeling and analyzing several variables, when the focus is on the relationship
between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In regression
analysis, it is also of interest to characterize the variation of the dependent
variable around the regression function, which can be described by a probability
distribution.
Regression analysis is widely used for prediction and forecasting, where its use has substantial overlap with the field of machine learning. Regression analysis is also used to understand which
among the independent variables are related to the dependent variable, and to
explore the forms of these relationships. In restricted circumstances,
regression analysis can be used to infer causal
relationships between the independent and dependent variables. However
this can lead to illusions or false relationships, so caution is advisable;
APPLICATION OF REGRESSION
Applications of regression analysis
exist in almost every field. In economics, the dependent variable might be a
family's consumption expenditure and the independent variables might be the
family's income, number of children in the family, and other factors that would
affect the family's consumption patterns. In political science, the dependent
variable might be a state's level of welfare spending and the independent
variables measures of public opinion and institutional variables that would
cause the state to have higher or lower levels of welfare spending. In
sociology, the dependent variable might be a measure of the social status of
various occupations and the independent variables characteristics of the
occupations (pay, qualifications, etc.). In psychology, the dependent variable
might be individual's racial tolerance as measured on a standard scale and with
indicators of social background as independent variables. In education, the
dependent variable might be a student's score on an achievment test and the
independent variables characteristics of the student's family, teachers, or
school.
