Multivariable vs. Multivariate: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between multivariable and multivariate is that multivariable analysis involves fitting statistical models to predict an outcome variable based on multiple predictors whereas multivariate analysis seeks to summarize and explore interactions among multiple variables.

Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand Multivariable and Multivariate:

  • Multivariable: Multivariable refers to situations where there are multiple independent variables that influence or explain a dependent variable.
  • Multivariate: Multivariate refers to situations where there are multiple variables, generally more than two, that are being analyzed or considered simultaneously.

Now, let’s get to Multivariable vs Multivariate:

Major differences between Multivariable and Multivariate

Multivariable Multivariate
Multivariable analysis aims to understand the effect of multiple independent variables on a single outcome variable. Multivariate analysis aims to identify patterns and relationships within a dataset involving multiple variables.
In multivariable analysis, the focus is on explaining the variability of a single dependent variable. In multivariate analysis, the relationships among multiple variables are explored, regardless of them being dependent or independent.
Multivariable analysis is commonly used in fields like economics, social sciences, or medical research to determine the significance of various factors on an outcome. Multivariate analysis is used in areas such as market research, psychology, or data mining to uncover complex relationships or patterns among variables.
Multivariable analysis is primarily concerned with predicting or explaining a response variable based on multiple predictors. Multivariate analysis is concerned with analyzing and interpreting the relationships among multiple variables in a dataset.
Multivariable analysis aims to identify the influence of individual predictors on a dependent variable. Multivariate analysis seeks to capture the overall structure and interrelationships among multiple variables.

So, these are the main differences between the entities.

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