Mediator Variable: Definition and Examples in Research

What Is a Mediator Variable? If you have ever read a research paper and wondered how one thing actually leads to another, you have probably met a mediator variable — even if the paper never used that exact word. A mediator variable is the middle step in a chain: it explains how or why an …

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Moderator Variable: Definition, Examples, and How It Differs from a Mediator

Moderator Variable: Definition, Examples, and How It Differs from a Mediator Plain-English Definition A moderator variable is a third variable that changes the strength or direction of the relationship between two other variables. In other words, a moderator answers the question: for whom, or under what conditions, does this effect hold? Consider a simple claim: …

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