This variable is also sometimes known as the predicted variable, but this should not be confused with predicted values, which are denoted y ^ {\displaystyle {\hat {y}}} . The decision as to which variable in a data set is modeled as the dependent variable and which are modeled as the independent variables may be based on a presumption that the value of one of the variables is caused by, or directly influenced by the other variables. Alternatively, there may be an operational reason to model one of the variables in terms of the others, in which case there need be no presumption of causality.