Intervening variable

An intervening varibale is a variable that occurs between a independent variable and a dependent variable and explains the cause and effect relationship between them.

For example, one can make the statement that by attending school, one increases tolerance for other races. "Attending school" would be the independent variable, and "tolerance" the dependent. However, the act of attending school itself does not create racial tolerance, rather it comes as a result of a being exposed to students of other races and being exposed to tolerance education within the classroom. Therefore, we can state that the intervening varibale in this scneario is "education."