What does regression analysis aim to determine?

Regression analysis is a statistical method used to examine the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. The primary aim of regression analysis is to identify how the independent variables affect the dependent variable, allowing for predictions or inferences about the dependent variable based on the values of the independent variables. This relationship is typically expressed through a mathematical equation, which can be used to model the underlying data.

For instance, in a simple linear regression model, the equation is often written as ( Y = a + bX ), where ( Y ) is the dependent variable, ( X ) is the independent variable, ( a ) is the y-intercept, and ( b ) is the slope of the line. This demonstrates how changes in ( X ) impact ( Y ). The goal is to find the best-fitting line that minimizes the difference between observed values and the predicted values derived from the model, which reflects the relationship being studied.

Other options focus on separate concepts. One option pertains to finding the average of data points, which is a basic statistical measure rather than a relationship assessment. Another option discusses constant variance, which relates more to the assumptions of regression models rather than the primary aim of the analysis itself. The last option talks