Yes Indeed.In the first place the distinction comes from the number of variable to be analyzed for the purpose. Univariate analysis is the simplest form of quantitative (statistical) analysis. The analysis mainly rests on the description of a single variable. It does not deal with factors or relationships of variables. For example, assume that a researcher wants to describe the amount of a micro-organism in a culture media as the number of MO, mean MO in a culture media, median of MO in a culture media the max, min and standard deviation of MO in culture medias. Such description is entirely Univariate analysis. The result can be presented in tables, graphs, bar graph and line box-and-whisker plot.
Here, Univariate analysis contrasts with bivariate analysis – the analysis of two variables simultaneously (There are two variables). It focuses on the analysis of two variables simultaneously to see their correlations or relationships, to compare them, and to assess and can be presented in tables and graphs as x and y. it tries to address the questions such as: Is there a relationship between the number of MO in a culture media and its spp?
Definitly there is a difference. Univeriate means the descriptive analysis for variables such as presenting the means and standard deviations. on the other hand, bivariate analyses referes to hypotheses testing and it is mandatory to have 2 variables or more to study the relationship or differences among them.
I think we have example of here of two contrasting uses for the same language. On the hand, we have the idea that uni-variate analyses do not have an independent variable and are thus purely descriptive. On the other hand, we have the idea that uni-variate analyses involve a single independent variable.
I have heard people use both of these terminologies, which is indeed confusing. So, it would help to know more about your specific research question and the variables involved.
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