The Logical Status of Suppressor Variables

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 359-372

Abstract

Social scientists are unaware that the absence of a relationship between an independent & dependent variable is just as spurious as its presence. The main reason is that the relationship is concealed by a suppressor test factor. The logical status of suppressor test factors & compensating influences are considered. Examples of antecedent, intervening, & component suppressor variables are provided. Though formally the same, standard test factors & suppressor test factors generate opposite interpretations of spuriousness in a causal sense. Several substantive contributions of suppressor variables to social science are discussed. Suppressor variables may appear as often as standard test factors in research. 4 Tables. S. Karganovic.