BusinessAugust 24, 2026

collinearity

kol-li-LIN-ee-AR-i-tee

Definition

A statistical phenomenon in a multiple regression model where two or more independent variables are highly correlated, making it difficult to isolate the individual effect of each variable on the dependent variable.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'com-' (together) and 'linearis' (pertaining to a line). It describes the geometric property of points or lines lying on the same straight line, applied in statistics to variables that 'line up' too closely.

In the news

In this article, the authors examined Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) values to ensure that collinearity among variables did not compromise the validity of their structural model.

The cognitive and affective pathways of FinTech adoption: a trait-to-state-to-intention mechanism

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Frontiers

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