RESEARCH VARIABLES;

Conceptualization; AND
Operationalization

Michael Kiwanuka (PhD)

UMI/SMS
 Introduction

• Right from of formulating the topic, the issue of

research variables is pertinent to a researcher.
• Research is the study of association of variables
• There must therefore be at least two variables in
a research study, else there is no relationship to
study.
 Introduction cont’d
• Each person/thing we collect data on is called ‘an
observation’.
• Observations possess a variety of characteristics.
• If a characteristic of an observation is the same for
every member, it is called a constant. (in research
we don't get excited about constant observations)
• If a characteristic of an observation differs for
group members it is called a variable (interest to a
researcher).
 What is a variable?
• A characteristic of a person, object, entity or
phenomenon which can take on different values or
forms.
• The variations may be in the form of numbers e.g.
 Age -takes different values for different people or for the
same person at different times.
 Weight (expressed in kilograms or in pounds);
 Home-School distance (in Kms or in minutes);
 Number of children (1, 2, etc.).
 Monthly income (expressed in UShs, dollars, etc
 Variable cont’d
It’s therefore any entity that can take on a variety of
different values
– gender
– self-esteem
– managerial style
• attributes, values, and levels are the variations in a
variable
 Causes and associations of variables

Dependent and Independent variables

• In most social research, we often look for causal
explanations;
• it is important to make a distinction between
dependent and independent variables.
 Dependent variable (DV)
• variable that is used to describe or measure the
problem under study
• the variable that is being observed or measured for
changes that are thought to be caused by the changes
in the independent variable
• dependent variables are also known as “response” or
“outcome” variables
is the response or outcome that the researcher is
interested in examining
• DV is analogous to the “effect” in a cause-effect
relationship
 Cont’d
Example: a test score - could change depending on how
much you studied, how much sleep you had the night
before the test, or even how hungry you were when you
wrote it.

Usually when you are looking for a relationship between

two things, you are trying to find out what makes the
dependent variable change the way it does.
 Independent variables (IV)

• variables that are used to describe or measure the

factors that are assumed to cause or at least to
influence the problem
• It is a variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the
other variables you are trying to measure.
• eg, someone's age might be an independent variable.
Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go
to school, how much television they watch) aren't going
to change a person's age
 independent variable

• It is the variable that is manipulated either

by the researcher or by nature or
circumstance
• independent variables are also called
“stimulus” “input” or “predictor” variables
• IV is analogous to the “cause” in a cause-
effect relationship
 Note!
• Independent variable) causes a change in
(Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that the
DV could cause a change in the IV.
 Conceptualization of Variables
• Conceptualization is a process of defining the agreed
meaning of the terms used in a study.
• you move between loose ideas of what you are trying
to study and searching for a word that best describes
it.
• you begin to see dimensions;- different aspects or
subgroups of a concept. (Dimensions are usually
concepts themselves).
• With each dimension, you start deciding on indicators
• An indicator is a sign of the presence or absence of
the concept we are studying
 Example of dimensions
Alienation Corruption
• Powerlessness • Abuse of office
• Meaninglessness • Bribery
• Normlessness • Nepotism
• Isolation • Embezzlement
• Self-estrangement
From Conceptualization to Operationalization

• The process of creating a definition(s) for a

concept that can be observed and measured
• specifies precisely how a concept will be measured
– the operations it will perform.
• created to define the procedures or steps used in
measuring a concept.
• An operational definition must be specific and
unambiguous
 Note!:
• Operationalizing variables is choosing
appropriate indicators (making them
measureable).
• But sometimes not possible to find meaningful
categories of some variables.
• requires making them operational with one or
more precise indicators
In many qualitative studies, the researcher is not
primarily interested in measuring variables, but
rather in identifying variables or clusters of variables
that help explain a problem or reasons for success
 Group Engagement

• Discuss how and when you would measure

variables using:
– Nominal Measures
– Ordinal Measures
– Interval Measures
– Ratio Measures
 Varieties and types of variables
Moderator variables
• a 3rd variable that can increase or decrease the relationship
between an independent and a dependent variable.
It affects the strength of the relationship between a dependent
and independent variable
example, whether listeners are persuaded more by the quality
or quantity of arguments, is moderated by their degree of
involvement in an issue.
• Its that factor which is measured, manipulated, or selected by
the experimenter to discover whether it modifies the effect of
the independent variable to an observed phenomenon
 Intervening Variable

• . . refer to abstract processes that are not

directly observable but that link the independent
and dependent variables.
• An intervening variable is a variable that helps
explain the relationship between two variables
 Intervening Variable
Farida found out in her study that there is a relationship
between level of education and spending. Specifically, the
higher a person's level of education, the more money he
spends. But we know that being highly educated does not
directly cause you to spend more money. To answer this
question, Farida wanted to see if there are any intervening
variables. she found out that income can explain the
relationship between education and spending. The higher
one's education, the more money one is likely to make. This
means that a person will have more income- leftover to
spend, which leads to increased spending.
In this example, income is the intervening variable in the
relationship between education and spending