(sample multiple crosstabulation table)

SEX AND 1980 PRESIDENTIAL VOTE BY INCOME GROUPS

Presidential Vote                                                                                  $17,000 to                   $25,000

(major parties only)       Total Sample                Under $17,000             $24,999                       and over

Female Male                Female Male                Female Male                Female Male

Carter                          47%     40%                 57%     43%                 40%     36%                 36%     34%

Reagan                         53%     61%                 43%     57%                 60%     64%                 64%     65%

Total                            100%   101%               100%   100%               100%   100%               100%   99%

N of cases                    (482)    (395)                (108)    (86)                  (78)      (92)                  (102)    (140)

Χ²= 4.8                        X² = 3.96                     X² = .08                       X² = .01

p = .03                         p = .05                         p = .77                         p = .89

There is a statistically significant relationship between sex and presidential vote for the sample as a whole. 61% of the men voted for Reagan as compared to 53% of the women. When controlling for family income group, however, we found that the relationship between sex and the vote was significant only for the under $17,000 family income group. Among this group, 57% of the men voted for Reagan, as compared to 43% of the women. Among the higher income groups, there was no significant difference with 60% or more of both sexes voting for Reagan.

In this example, sex is the Independent variable, presidential vote Is the dependent variable, and income Is the test variable. Income Is an intervening variable between sex and vote. When compared with the original relationship, the partial relationships are split. In the terminology of the Elaboration Paradigm, this is an example of specification.