Proxy (statistics)

A proxy variable or short just proxy is a variable that measures a property that is not non- objective, non- reliabel, not valid or not reasonably accessible in general, the direct measurement.

It should be noted that although the determination of the proxy variable, possibly with very high quality and accuracy that can be done, but this about the so obtained accuracy of the determination of the actually measured variable says nothing.

Examples of proxy variables

  • High School grades for intelligence
  • Income for professional success
  • Income for disposable income
  • Blood alcohol concentration or breath alcohol concentration of the degree of alcohol-related harm
  • Isotope ratios in ice cores as climate proxies
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