OLS · Interpretation
Holding Other Variables Constant
Understand the comparison represented by an adjusted coefficient.
Page 1 of 7 · Big Picture
The big picture: Holding Other Variables Constant
What does holding constant mean?
Why a policy analyst should care
A partial coefficient compares observations at the same modeled values of other predictors; whether that comparison is substantively meaningful depends on causal structure and overlap.
Follow the idea from the opening question to a practical decision. These are the conceptual moves this module will develop:
1 Question What does holding constant mean?
2 Explore Compare profiles with one predictor changed
3 Formalize The coefficient is conditional on included terms
4 Transfer Audit an adjusted coefficient
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