title: Explorations in statistics: regression.
abstract: Learning about statistics is a lot like learning about science: the learning is more meaningful if you can actively explore. This seventh installment of Explorations in Statistics explores regression, a technique that estimates the nature of the relationship between two things for which we may only surmise a mechanistic or predictive connection. Regression helps us answer three questions: does some variable Y depend on another variable X; if so, what is the nature of the relationship between Y and X; and for some value of X, what value of Y do we predict? Residual plots are an essential component of a thorough regression analysis: they help us decide if our statistical regression model of the relationship between Y and X is appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. EverettD@NJHealth.org
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curran-Everett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010827:Physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012984:Software