Variable

Anne Kristine E. Piad

What is a
Variable?
Quantitative utilizes mathematical
methods in investigation of phenomena.

Variables
• unit of analysis
• refers to attributes or characteristics
that can be observed and measured that
varies from sample of population being
studied
A VARIABLE is anything
that has a quantity or
quality that varies.
 The person/subject we collect data on is
called an OBSERVATION.
If a CHARACTERISTIC of an OBSERVATION
(subject) is the same for every member of the
group or does not vary, it is called CONSTANT.

If a CHARACTERISTIC of an
OBSERVATION (subject) differs for the
group members, it is called VARIABLE
 KINDS
of VARIABLE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE – those that probably
cause, influence, or affect outcomes. They are
invariably called treatment, manipulated,
antecedent, or predictor variables.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
DEPENDENT VARIABLE– those that depend on the
independent variables; they are the outcomes or
results on the influence of the independent
variable.

It is observed and measured to determine the

effect of the independent variable
A dependent variable relies on and can be
changed by other components.
A grade on an exam is an example of a
dependent variable because it depends on
factors such as how much sleep you got and
how long you studied. Independent variables
can influence dependent variables, but
dependent variables cannot influence
independent variables.
For example,
the time you spent studying
(independent) can affect the grade
on your test (dependent) but the
grade on your test does not affect
the time you spent studying.
INTERVENING VARIABLE
INTERVENING VARIABLE, sometimes called a
mediator variable, is a theoretical variable the
researcher uses to explain a cause or connection
between other study variables—usually dependent
and independent ones. They are associations
instead of observations.
For example, if wealth is the
independent variable, and a long life
span is a dependent variable, the
researcher might hypothesize that
access to quality healthcare is the
intervening variable that links wealth
and life span.
MODERATING VARIABLE
MODERATING VARIABLE- “stand
between” in between of independent
and dependent variable. It is a variable
that can strengthen, diminish, negate,
or otherwise alter the association
between independent and dependent
variables.
It is commonly denoted as "M", is a
third variable that affects the strength
of the relationship between a
dependent and independent variable.
In correlation, a moderator is a third
variable that affects the correlation of
two variables.
For example, in a study looking at the
relationship between economic status
(independent variable) and how
frequently people get physical exams
from a doctor (dependent variable), age
is a moderating variable. That
relationship might be weaker in younger
individuals and stronger in older
individuals.
 From the given
example,
Academic
Performance of the
SHS student in
NNHS is the
Dependent
Variable because it
Moderating Variable is depending on
the kind of
parental support
showed which
makes their
performance high
or low.
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE are factors
that affect the dependent variable but
that the researcher did not originally
consider when designing the experiment.
These unwanted variables can
unintentionally change a study's results
or how a researcher interprets those
results.
 It is a variable that you're
not investigating that can
potentially affect the
outcomes of your research
study
Take, for example, a study assessing whether
private tutoring or online courses are more
effective at improving students' Spanish test
scores. Extraneous variables that might
unintentionally influence the outcome
include parental support, prior knowledge of
a foreign language or socioeconomic status.
CONTROL VARIABLE
CONTROL OR CONTROLLING
VARIABLES are characteristics that
are constant and do not change
during a study. They have no effect
on other variables.
For example, in a study looking
at the relationship between
economic status (independent
variable) and how frequently
people get physical exams from
a doctor (dependent variable),
age can be a control variable.
QUANTITATIVE VARIABLE
QUANTITATIVE VARIABLES are
any data sets that involve numbers or
amounts.
Examples might include height,
distance or number of items.
Researchers can further categorize quantitative
variables into two types:

•Discrete: Any numerical variables you can

realistically count, such as the coins in your wallet
or the money in your savings account.
•Continuous: Numerical variables that you
could never finish counting, such as time.
Discrete Variables are countable whole
numbers. It does not take negative values.
examples: # of students in a class, group size
and frequency

Continuous Variables take fractional values

that can be either positive or negative.
examples: height, temperature
QUALITATIVE VARIABLE
QUALITATIVE, OR CATEGORICAL, variables
are non-numerical values or groupings. Examples
might include eye or hair color. Researchers can
further categorize qualitative variables into three
types:

•Binary: Variables with only two categories, such

as male or female, red or blue.
Binary/dichotomous – two distinct categories (ex. Yes/no)
•Nominal: Variables you can organize in more
than two categories that do not follow a
particular order. Take, for example, housing
types: Single-family home, condominium, tiny
home.
Nominal - defines group of subject (ex.
Bloodtype, hair color, mode of transportation)
•Ordinal: Variables you can organize in
more than two categories that follow a
particular order. Take, for example, level of
satisfaction: Unsatisfied, neutral, satisfied.
Ordinal - denotes rank in certain order (ex. Survey
questionnaire (5highest-1lowest), cancer stages (I-IV),
Spotify Top 10 songs, academic Honor (highest-with
honors)
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE is one you
did not account for that can disguise
another variable's effects.
Confounding variables can invalidate
your experiment results by making
them biased or suggesting a
relationship between variables exists
when it does not.
For example, if you are studying the
relationship between exercise level
(independent variable) and body mass
index (dependent variable) but do not
consider age's effect on these factors, it
becomes a confounding variable that
changes your results.
 LEVELS
OF MEASUREMENT
It refers to the relationship among
the values that are assigned to the
attributes for a variable
NOMINAL
ORDINAL
INTERVAL
RATIO
 EXAMPLE #1:
How does the amount of sleep a night
before an exam affects scores in
students?

Independent variable: amount of time of sleep

Dependent variable: test scores
EXAMPLE #2:
During the quarantine period, your mother planted
tomato seedlings in pots.

Now common understanding from science tells you that

several factors are affecting the growth of tomatoes:
sunlight, water, kind of soil, and nutrients in soil.

How fast the tomato seedlings will grow and bear fruits
will depend on these factors.
Controlling the extraneous variable can
be done by holding it constant or
distribute its effect across the treatment.

When the researcher fails to control the

extraneous variable that it caused
considerable effect to the outcome, the
extraneous variable becomes a
confounding Variable.
In your answer sheet, identify the INDEPENDENT
and DEPENDENT VARIABLE in each scenario.

JR sleeps 10 hours the night Independent

before his exam. His twin variable:
sister has the same exam
Hours of sleep
and sleeps 4 hours the night
before the exam.
Afterwards, they compare Dependent variable:
their scores. Scores in the Exam
In your answer sheet, identify the INDEPENDENT
and DEPENDENT VARIABLE in each scenario.

1. Nadine planted monggo Independent variable:

seeds in 2 pots. She places
one pot in a shaded area, ____________________
then the other one in a
sunny area. After 2 weeks Dependent variable:
she measured the growth
in length of the monggo
_____________________
seeds.
2. TVL and
ACADEMIC Independent variable:
learners’ academic _____________________
performance were
compared last Dependent variable:
semester. _____________________
3. Level of
Satisfaction of Independent variable:
LNHS learners to _____________________
Canteen Services
when grouped Dependent variable:
according to sex. _____________________
4. Grade 11 and 12 Independent variable:
_____________________
Learners’ Level of
Satisfaction in Online Dependent variable:
Shopping. _____________________
 Bonus Question

Is AGE considered as a
ratio variable?
 PERFORMANCE TASK #2

In a LONG BONDPAPER, CREATE a

WORD MAP using POLYGONS indicating
the KINDS and ROLES of VARIABLES in
research.
➢ COMPUTERIZED/HANDWRITTEN
➢ SUBMIT ON MONDAY
➢ By PAIR