72 BUSINESS APPLICATIONS OF MULTIPLE REGRESSION
Some Final Thoughts on Simple Regression
The widespread use of spreadsheets and inexpensive statistical software
has made the use of regression analysis both easy and common. This has
both positive and negative consequences. On the good side, more people
now have access to a very powerful tool for analyzing relationships and
performing forecasts. However, it has caused some people to use regres-
sion analysis without understanding it and in situations for which it was
not appropriate. To help the reader avoid the downfalls of using regres-
sion inappropriately, we now offer a few suggestions:
1. Never use regression, or for that matter any statistical tool, without
understanding the underlying ...