Mediation analyses are employed to understand a known relationship by exploring the underlying mechanism or process by which one variable influences another variable through a mediator variable.<ref name=CCWA>Cohen, J.; Cohen, P.; West, S. G.; [[Leona S. Aiken|Aiken, L. S.]] (2003) ''Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences'' (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.</ref> In particular, mediation analysis can contribute to better understanding the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable when these variables do not have an obvious direct connection. | Mediation analyses are employed to understand a known relationship by exploring the underlying mechanism or process by which one variable influences another variable through a mediator variable.<ref name=CCWA>Cohen, J.; Cohen, P.; West, S. G.; [[Leona S. Aiken|Aiken, L. S.]] (2003) ''Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences'' (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.</ref> In particular, mediation analysis can contribute to better understanding the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable when these variables do not have an obvious direct connection. |