Practical Research I
Different Variables in Quantitative Research
□ Variable
- is an entity that can take on different values
- an aspect of a theory that can vary or change as part of the interaction within the theory
- anything that can affect or change the results of a study
anything that can vary can be considered a variable; these are needed to understand
differences
- may take different forms:
o age ○ lifestyle
o gender ○ temperature
o IQ level ○ medical treatment used
anything can be a variable as long as it is something that a researcher is interested in
Variable Classifications:
o Numeric ○ Experimental
o Categorical ○ Non-experimental
1. Numeric variable
- are variables with values that describe a measurable numerical quantity
- answers the questions ‘how many?’ or ‘how much?’
- considered quantitative data
2 types:
o Continuous/Interval variables
- assume any value between a certain set of real numbers depending on the scale
used
- recognizes value between whole number
- e.g., time, age, weight, height
o Discrete variables
- can only assume any whole value within the limits of the given variables
- whole numbers
- e.g., class attendance, no. of establishments in an area, no. of children in the
family
2. Categorical variables
- are variables with values that describe a quality or characteristic of a data unit
- answers the questions ‘what type?’ or ‘which category?’
- qualitative data
4 types:
o Ordinal variables
- can take a value which can be logically ordered or ranked
- serve the purpose of classification and ranking
- e.g., clothing size, academic ranking, levels of satisfaction, salary scale
o Nominal variables
- have values which cannot be organized in a logical sequence
- merely for the purpose of identification
- e.g., learning styles, language spoken, blood type, plate numbers
ORDINAL NOMINAL
- can be organized - for classification
or ranked categorical and identification
purposes only
o Dichotomous variables
- variables that represent only two categories
- e.g., yes or no, true or false, biological gender
o Polychotomous variables
- variables that have many categories
- e.g., performance level, educational attainment
3. Experimental variables
- variables that determine causal relationships
- is subdivided into:
◦ Independent variables
- presumed to cause changes in another variable
- are usually manipulated in an experiment
- also called causal variable
◦ Dependent variables
- variables that change because of another variable
- usually affected by the manipulation of the independent variable
- are variables that are monitored in an experiment
- also called as effect variable
Examples:
The Effect of studying in the Academic Performance of Students
▫ studying → independent variable
▫ academic performance → dependent variable
» Studying greatly affects academic performance
The Effect of Diet and Exercise on the Physical Fitness of Individuals
▫ diet & exercise → independent variable
▫ physical fitness → dependent variable
» Diet and Exercise affects the Physical Fitness of individuals
◦ Control variables
- are variables that are held constant
- these help to identify the possible differences in the outcomes as a result of
controlling certain variables
◦ Moderating variables
- are variables that delineates how a relationship of interest changes under
different conditions or circumstances
- may be quantitative or qualitative in nature
- introduces change in the results if done in a different situation or condition
◦ Extraneous variables
- are variables that are already existing during the conduct of an experiment
- these variables could influence the results of the study
- as much as possible, must be controlled because they can offer an
alternative result
- these are extra variables which are already existing
Example:
The Effect of Playing Music on Academic Performance of Students
▫ playing music → independent variable
▫ academic performance → dependent variable
▫ genre of music (classical or rock music) → moderator variable
▫ class duration (60 mins per class) → control variable
▫ noise, ventilation, lighting → extraneous variable
4. Non-experimental variables
- are variables which cannot be manipulated by the researcher
- are further classified into:
◦ Predictor variables
- are variables that change/affect other variables in a non-experimental study
◦ Criterion variables
- variables that are influenced by the predictor in a non-experimental study
Examples:
The Influence of Management Styles on Employee Satisfaction
▫ management styles → predictor variable
▫ employee satisfaction → criterion variable
Conduct of Guidance Counselling Programs and Degree of Absenteeism and
Drop-out Rate among Grade 8 students
▫ conduct of guidance counselling programs → predictor variable
▫ degree of absenteeism and drop-out rate → criterion variable
Recognizing variables and knowing their classification and roles would help researchers have a
more detailed idea regarding how the variables in their study interact and affect each other
In turn, this contributes to a more meaningful discussion regarding the possible outcomes of a
study as reflected in their identified variables.
