Classification of Variables
Classification of Variables
Lesson 3: Classification of
Variables
In any research, we deal with factors or properties in order to study something. This
factor or property that we measure, control, or manipulate in quantitative research is
called a variable.
Variables can be classified into different types depending on context.
Numeric – variables with values describing a number or quantity that can be measured
and answers the questions “how many” or “how much”
Discrete – variables that are countable in a fixed amount of time and can only
assume any whole value within the limits of the given variables.
Continuous – variables that take an infinite amount of time to be counted and can
assume any value between a certain set of real numbers.
Ordinal – variables that can take a value that can be logically arranged in a
sequence or rank
Examples: Academic grades (A, B, C, F), clothing size (S, M, L, XL), measure
of attitudes (strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree)
Experimental
Extraneous – variables already existing in the experiment that could affect the
results of the study; also known as mediating, intervening, or covariate variable
Example: Use of Gardening Tools and Types of Fertilizer: Their Effects on the Amount
of Harvest
Non-experimental