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Variables of Quantitative Research

This document discusses key concepts in quantitative research variables. It defines dependent and independent variables, with the dependent variable changing as a result of the independent variable. Examples are given of experiments manipulating an independent variable like light exposure on a dependent variable like plant growth. Extraneous variables that could also impact results are explained. Discrete and continuous variables are distinguished, along with different levels of measurement for variables: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.

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Analyn Pastor
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2K views23 pages

Variables of Quantitative Research

This document discusses key concepts in quantitative research variables. It defines dependent and independent variables, with the dependent variable changing as a result of the independent variable. Examples are given of experiments manipulating an independent variable like light exposure on a dependent variable like plant growth. Extraneous variables that could also impact results are explained. Discrete and continuous variables are distinguished, along with different levels of measurement for variables: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.

Uploaded by

Analyn Pastor
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Variables of

Quantitativ
e Research
Variables
Variables are properties or characteristic of some event,
object, or person that can be assigned with different value
or amounts.
In conducting a quantitative research, especially in
experiments, variables are oftentimes manipulated or
controlled.
Dependent Variable
Dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of an
intervention or experiment.
The changes in the dependent variable are what the researcher is
trying to measure and test.
Independent Variable
Independent variable, on the other hand, is hypothesized to affect
the dependent variable.
An independent variable is what the researcher manipulates to see if
it changes the dependent variable.
Examples
A student is interested in determining the effects of exposure to different
colored lights (e.g., yellow, green, and red) on the growth of plants.

Exposure to different
affects Plant growth (dependent
colored lights (independent
variable)
variable)

The relationship between independent and dependent variable


Case 1
To determine whether a diet of blueberries has an effect on going, an
experiment involving 19-month-old rats was undertaken. In this
study, one group of was fed with their standard diet while the other
three groups were fed with diet supplemented with blueberry,
strawberry, or spinach powder, respectively. After eight weeks, the
rats were given memory test and motor skills test.
Case 2
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), if given in mega doses, is known to reduce
the occurrence of cancer cells. To test this hypothesis, patients with
known cancers were given mega doses of vitamin C for a period of 12
weeks. After 12 weeks, screening tests were done to determine if
cancer cells decreased.
Case 3
Lucy is an owner of a fashion accessories store. She surveyed her
customers on their preferences for accessories on a headband. She
found out that her customers prefer ribbons. Thus, Lucy would stock
up on ribbon because this will determine the number of headbands,
with ribbons that she can sell.
In an experiment, independent variables will have different levels. In
the example that involves the exposure of plants to different colored
lights, the independent variable has four levels. These are (1) exposure
to yellow light, (2) exposure to green light, (3) exposure to red light, and
(4) no light at all, which may serve as the control of the experiment.
The number of levels of an independent variable is the number of
experimental conditions.
Discrete and
Continuous
Variables
Discrete Variable
A discrete variable assumes a distinct point on a scale.
For example, the number of puppies that a mother dog can
have is always a whole number.
Continuous Variable
A continuous variable is a variable that can assume a
continuous scale rather than distinct points in a scale.
For example, height could be five feet, or 5.5 feet (which
means five feet and six inches).
Extraneous
Variable
Extraneous variables are all variables, which are not the
independent variable, but could affect the results of the
experiment.
There are four types of extraneous variable: situational
variable, participant/person variable,
experimenter/investigator effects, demand
characteristics
Situational Variable
These are aspects of the environment that might
affect the participant’s behavior, e.g. noise,
temperature, lighting conditions, etc. Situational
variables should be controlled so they are the same
for all participants.
Participant/Person Variable
This refers to the ways in which each participant
varies from the other, and how this could affect the
results e.g. mood, intelligence, anxiety, nerves,
concentration etc.
Experimenter/Investigator Effects
The experimenter unconsciously conveys to
participants how they should behave - this is called
experimenter bias.
Demand Characteristics
Demand characteristics are all the clues in an experiment
which convey to the participant the purpose of the
research. Demand characteristics can change the results of
an experiment if participants change their behavior to
conform to expectations.
Levels of
Measurement
Nominal Scale
A nominal scale denotes a qualitative attribute of the variable.

If you do a survey on the favorite movie genre of teens, the


answers would probably be comedy, drama, suspense, science
fiction, or horror. There is no number associated with these
variables because they are categories or classification.
Ordinal Scale
Ordinal scale refers to the order or rank of a measurement.
Consider a restaurant owner who wishes to survey customers on their extent of
satisfaction with the quality of service of the restaurant. Refer to the survey
question that follows.
Interval Scales
 
Interval scales are numerical scales in which the exact
difference between two values is known.
An example of an interval scale is temperature. The
difference between 26 and 25 is the same as the difference
between 28 and 27.
Ratio
A ratio scale has the properties of nominal, ordinal and
interval scales. It also possesses a true zero scale. A true
zero is the point where none of the qualities being measure
exist.

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