hypothetical variable that is not observed directly in research but, rather, is inferred from the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable (Shavelson, 1996).
A variable that causally links other variables to each other. In a causal model, this intermediate variable must be influenced by one variable in order for a subsequent variable to be influenced.
involved in the relationship between the independent and dependent variables (within the person)
A variable which is postulated to be a predictor of one or more dependent variables, and simultaneously predicted by one or more independent variables. Synonym: mediating variable.
A process inferred to occur between stimulus and response, thus accounting for one response rather than another to the same stimulus. The intervening variable may be inferred without further specification, or it may be given concrete properties and become an object of investigation.
An intervening variable is a hypothetical concept that attempts to explain relationships between variables, and especially the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables. It is often distinguished from a hypothetical construct in that it has no properties other than those observed in empirical research. That is, it is simply a summary of the relationships observed between independent and dependent variables.