A moderating variable is a type of variable that affects the relationship between a dependent variable and an independent variable. In statistics and regression analysis, moderation occurs when the relationship between two variables depends on a third variable, which is referred to as the moderator variable or simply the moderator). Moderators can be qualitative or quantitative variables that affect the direction and/or strength of the relationship between an independent or predictor variable and a dependent or criterion variable. Moderating variables can have a variety of effects, such as strengthening or weakening the relationship between variables. Moderators are important because they can help researchers understand why a relationship is happening or why it isnt happening. Moderating variables can be confused with control variables, but they are different because moderating variables affect the relationship between two variables, while control variables affect the value of another variable.