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the use of regression to make quantitative predictions of one variable from the values of another

the use of regression to make quantitative predictions of one variable from the values of another

Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In MULTIPLE REGRESSION the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable.