Regression.

Regression is a family of curve-fitting methods for (1) predicting average response performance for new combinations of factors and (2) understanding which factor changes cause changes in average outputs. In this chapter, the uses of regression for prediction and performing hypothesis tests are described. Regression methods are perhaps the most widely used statistics or operations research techniques. Also, even though some people think of regression as merely the ˵curve fitting method″ in Excel, the methods are surprisingly subtle with much potential for misuse (and benefit). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]