From Basic Regression to Model Thinking

This lesson reframes regression as a disciplined modeling activity rather than a mechanical equation-fitting exercise. Students move from the familiar idea of drawing a line through data to thinking carefully about variables, assumptions, uncertainty, interpretation, and the purpose of a model.

By the end, learners will be able to distinguish prediction from explanation, describe what a regression model is claiming about the data-generating process, and recognize why diagnostics and statistical judgment matter before trusting coefficients or forecasts.