Date:         Wed, 15 Sep 2004 14:07:43 -0400
Reply-To:     "Zdaniuk, Bozena" <BZdaniuk@ucsur.pitt.edu>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Zdaniuk, Bozena" <BZdaniuk@ucsur.pitt.edu>
Subject:      interpreting betas
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello, I have created a composite variable from a few other variables by
computing a mean of their z-scores (they had different scales so I
needed to standardize them). Now I am using this new standardized
variable as a predictor of other continuous variables in a regression. I
am having a bit of a trouble interpreting betas. Normally, the regular
beta tells us how much change there is in the DV for each unit change in
the IV. But what are the units in my standardized composite variable?
Should I just look at standardized betas in this case? And if yes, how
should I interpret it? I know it's a basic stuff but it eludes me and I
have no time right now to go dig into my regression books. I would
appreciate greatly if someone could help me with that.
Thanks a lot.
Bozena

Bozena Zdaniuk, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
UCSUR, 6th Fl.
121 University Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Ph.: 412-624-5736
Fax: 412-624-4810
email: bozena@pitt.edu
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