Lesson 2 Variables in Research

L E S S O N 2 : VA R I A B L E S I N
R E S E A RC H
S I R P E N
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
▪ define variables;
▪ differentiates kinds of variables and their uses; and
▪ critique research journals in terms of variables used.
In the perspective of research, variables are
measurable qualities and quantities. In quantitative
research, variables have a certain value that can be
measured by instruments, surveys, questionnaires, and
more. Variable as something that can take more than one
value, and values can be words or numbers. These
values can be gender, age, size, height, weight, income,
temperature, etc.
W H A T I S A VA R I A B L E
Q UA L I T I E S O F A G O O D
VA R I A B L E
Practical - can be
Unbiased – fair or
Reliable - consistent measured through
do not prejudice to
and trustworthy. scientific instruments
something.
or by scales.
Objective - should
be not affected by Valid - legal, official,
individual opinions in and acceptable.
representing facts.
Continuous
LEVELS OF
VA R I A B L E
MEASUREMENT
Discrete
C O N T I N U O U S VA R I A B L E
▪ Variables that can take infinite number or value within the
sample or population.
▪ Values can be in the form of whole number, fractions, decimals,
or in percentage. Some examples of continuous variables are
age, height, and temperature.
a. Interval variables- have a b. Ratio variables – have a clear
meaningful difference between definition of zero. A zero in a ratio
two values. Interval variables variable means an absence of
do not have true zero and have value for that variable (e.g., time,
values below zero (e.g., height, mass, and weight of
temperature, a year of your luggage)
birth, shoe size, IQ)
D I S C R E T E O R C AT E G O R I C A L
VA R I A B L E S
▪ Also called classificatory variable.
▪ Discrete variables have limited number of values and cannot be
divided into fractions.
▪ Gender, blood group, and number of children in family are values
that cannot be expressed in fraction unlike in the case of
continuous variables.
D I S C R E T E O R C AT E G O R I C A L
VA R I A B L E S
Discrete variables are further categorized as:
Nominal variable Dichotomous variable Ordinal variable

• represents variables that • a sub-type of nominal scale • variables that have a
has no definite order or with only two possible meaningful order or rank
ranking categories • order can be from
• Nominal variables do not • For example, biological sex greatest to smallest
have quantitative value. - or gender assigned at • Education level like
c.birth—Male/Female
• For example, eye color, primary, secondary,
• For example, if somebody
religion, gender, political asks you if you are hungry. graduate studies, and
affiliation There could only be two post-graduate studies
possible answer—YES or are examples of ordinal
NO, and nothing in variable.
between.
K I N D S O F VA R I A B L E S
1. Independent variables
▪ these are variables cause, influence, or
affect outcomes in an experiment or study.
▪ Some researchers call it treatment or
manipulated variables. Independent
variables act on something that bring
about changes in the experiment or study.
Effects of cardio-vascular exercises

to senior citizens.
2. Dependent variables
▪ are those variables affected or depends
on the independent variables.
▪ Dependent variables are the outcomes of
the influence of the independent
variable.
Effects of cardio-vascular exercises

to senior citizens.
R E L ATIO N S H IP O F IN D E P E N D E N T
A N D D E P E N D E N T VA R I A B L E S
Independent INFLUENCES Dependent

variable change in the variable
3. Control variable
▪ is special type of independent variables that are held constant or
unchanged throughout the course of experiment.
▪ Experimental research oftentimes requires controlled variables to limit
the effect of independent variables on dependent variables.
▪ By doing this, researchers can isolate the root and cause of change in the
dependent variable.
Example: Feeding frequency (twice a day), day-light duration (12/12), and
number of chickens used were considered controlled variables. These variables
were predetermined from the start of the experiment or study.
4. Intervening or meddling variables
▪ are hypothetical variables that cannot be observed in
an experiment.
▪ Intervening variables are used to explain possible links
between variables.
Sample Scenario of an Intervening Variable
There is an association between being poor
and having a shorter life span. Just because
someone is poor doesn’t mean that will lead
to an early death, so other hypothetical
variables are used to explain the
phenomenon. These intervening variables
could include lack of access to healthcare or
poor nutrition
5. Confounding variables
▪ are variables that are not measured or observed in a
study
▪ Serves as " extra" independent variable that poses
hidden effect to your dependent variable that strongly
influences your findings in some negative way
Sample Scenario of a Confounding Variable
For example, if you are researching whether lack
of exercise leads to weight gain, then lack of
exercise is your independent variable and weight
gain is your dependent variable. One
confounding variable might be how much
people eat. It’s also possible that men eat more
than women; this could also make sex a
confounding variable.
Other examples of confounding variables are
mental condition, physical ability, age, and the
like.
6. Extraneous Variables
▪ These are the variables that you do not want to
intentionally affect your findings.
▪ More of like a confounding variable but affects the
findings in a weaker/less manner.
Sample Scenario of an Extraneous Variable
You want to know if online learning increases student
understanding of statistics. One group uses an online
learning materials to study, the other group uses
traditional learning materials like printed modules and
books.
Extraneous variables could include prior knowledge of
statistics; you would have to make sure that group A
roughly matched group B with prior knowledge before
starting the study. Other extraneous variables could
include amount of support in the home, socio-economic
income, or temperature of the testing room.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Lesson 2 Variables in Research

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson 2 Variables in Research

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson 2 Variables in Research

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L E S S O N 2 : VA R I A B L E S I N

Nominal variable Dichotomous variable Ordinal variable

Effects of cardio-vascular exercises

Effects of cardio-vascular exercises

Independent INFLUENCES Dependent

You might also like