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Variables in Research

This document defines and differentiates types of variables that are important in research. It discusses independent and dependent variables, with the independent variable influencing the dependent variable. It also covers attribute versus active variables, with attribute variables unable to be manipulated. Finally, it defines continuous, discrete, and categorical variable types as well as extraneous variables that can impact research outcomes. Understanding variables is crucial before conducting research.

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Eloicel Bautista
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
95 views

Variables in Research

This document defines and differentiates types of variables that are important in research. It discusses independent and dependent variables, with the independent variable influencing the dependent variable. It also covers attribute versus active variables, with attribute variables unable to be manipulated. Finally, it defines continuous, discrete, and categorical variable types as well as extraneous variables that can impact research outcomes. Understanding variables is crucial before conducting research.

Uploaded by

Eloicel Bautista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Variables in Research

OBJECTIVES

➢ To define variables in research;


➢ To differentiate the types of variables; and
➢ To justify why understanding variables before conducting any
research project is important
Variable

• Variable is something that can change and or can have more than
one value or that takes on different values;
• Variables can be defined in terms of measurable factors through a
process of operationalization. It will convert difficult concepts into
easily understandable concepts which then can be measured,
empirically.
Variable

• As the name implies, a variable is something that varies, such as


weight, height, anxiety levels, income, or body temperature.
• It is also a logical grouping of attributes. Attributes are
characteristics or qualities that describe an object.
Common Types of Variables

• Independent and Dependent Variables


• Active and Attribute Variables
• Continuous, Discrete, and Categorical Variable
• Extraneous and Demographic Variables
Independent and Dependent Variables

• The Independent Variable is the antecedent while the dependent


variable is the consequent.
• If the independent variable is an active variable, then we
manipulate the values of the variable to study its effect on
another variable.
• Dependent variable is the variable that is affected by the
independent variable.
Independent and Dependent Variables

• The dependent variable is dependent on the independent variable.


Active and Attribute Variables

• Variables are often characteristics of research subjects, such as


their age, health beliefs, weight, etc.
• Variables that cannot be manipulated are attribute variables, and
variables that the researcher creates are the active variables.
• Active variables can also be independent variables.
Active and Attribute Variables

Example:
Effectiveness of communication board in meeting the needs of the
intubated patients. Communication board is an active independent
variable as it can be modified according to the needs of the patients
or according to the requirement of the study. It is also the cause, that
is, the independent variable.
Active and Attribute Variables

• Attribute variable is a variable where we do not alter the variable


during the study.
• It can also be the independent variable, but it has limitations. Some
attribute variables are age, gender, blood group, eye color, etc.
Active and Attribute Variables

• Demographic variables are characteristics or attributes of subjects that are


collected to describe the sample. It is also called sample characteristics. It
means these variables describe the study sample and determine if samples
are representative of the population of interest.
• Although demographic variables cannot be manipulated, researchers can
explain relationships between demographic variables and dependent
variables.
• Some common demographic variables are age, gender, occupation, marital
status, income, etc.
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables

• Sometimes, variables take on a wide range of values on a continuum.


• A continuous variable can assume an infinite number of values between two
points. If we consider the continuous variable weight: between 1 and 2 kg, the
number of values is limitless: 1.005, 1.7, 1.33333, and so on.
• On the other hand, a discrete variable is one that has a finite number of values
between any two points, representing discrete quantities.
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables

• A categorical variable is one that has two or more categories


(values). There are two types: nominal and ordinal.
• A nominal variable has no intrinsic ordering to its categories.
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables

• In nominal measurements, there are two or more subsets of the set


objects being measured. “They have a simple requirement that all the
members of the subset are considered the same and all are assigned the
same name (nominal) and the same numeral”. That is, they can be
measured only in terms of whether the individual items belong to certain
distinct categories, but we cannot quantify or even rank order the
categories.
• For example, gender is a categorical variable having two categories (male
and female) with no intrinsic ordering to the categories.
• An ordinal variable has a clear ordering.
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables

When categorical variables take on only two values, they are sometimes
referred to as dichotomous variables. [binary variables]

Variables Examples
Dichotomous Gender: Male and Female
Variables Type of property: Commercial and residential
Pregnant and non-pregnant
Education: Literate and illiterate
Trichotomous Residence: Urban, semi-urban, and rural
Variables Religion: Hindu, Muslim, and Christianity
Multiple Variables Blood groups: A, B, AB and O
Continuous, Discrete and Categorial Variables

https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/types-of-variables/#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20types%20of,%2C%20nominal%2C%20and%20ordinal%20variables.
Extraneous Variables

• Variables that may affect research outcomes but have not been
adequately considered in the study are termed extraneous
variables.
• Extraneous variables exist in all studies and can affect the
measurement of study variables and the relationship among
these variables.
Extraneous Variables

• Extraneous variables that are not recognized until the study is in


process, or are recognized before the study is initiated but cannot
be controlled, are referred to as confounding variables.
• Certain external variables may influence the relationship between
the research variables, even though the researcher cannot see it.
These variables are called intervening variables.
Extraneous Variables

For example:

Girls’ knowledge and practices help in maintaining menstrual


hygiene. Here, motivation, mother and friends, and mass media are
some intervening variables that may also help in maintaining menstrual
hygiene. Thus, if these two factors are not controlled, it would be
impossible to know what the underlying cause really is.
Internet Resources:

• https://sites.usp.br/rnp/wp-content/uploads/sites/830/2020/10/complemento-aula-1.pdf
• https://sciencenotes.org/independent-and-dependent-variables-examples/
• https://www.statisticshowto.com/attribute-variable/
• https://medium.com/@dharmanathpatil/types-of-random-variables-1f7e17a4e3c7
• https://www.educatormaldives.com/2021/10/variable-and-name-five-variables-that.html
• https://prowritingaid.com/dependent-variable
• https://www.simplypsychology.org/variables.html

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