Glossary

Exogenous Variable

Exogenous Variable:

Exogenous variables in causal modeling are the variables with no causal links (arrows) leading to them from other variables in the model. In other words, exogenous variables have no explicit causes within the model.

The concept of exogenous variable is fundamental in path analysis and structural equation modeling .

The complementary concept is endogenous variable

Note: classification of a particular variable as exogenous depends on the chosen causal model: the same variable may be exogenous in one model and endogenous in another model based on exactly the same set of variables.

Test Yourself

Planning on taking an introductory statistics course, but not sure if you need to start at the beginning? Review the course description for each of our introductory statistics courses and estimate which best matches your level, then take the self test for that course. If you get all or almost all the questions correct, move on and take the next test.