RESEARCH METHODS Figure 5 Platykurtic Frequency H Score Median Mode Classification of variables The method section of a research study describes in sufficient detail the types of variables in the study. In particular, the procedures used in measuring the variables in the study should be well explained. A variable was defined as a measurable characteristic that assumes different values among the subjects. Obtaining these different values for each subject on a particular variable was’ referred to as operational definition of the variable. Measurement of variables or the operation definition of variables is a very critical step in the research process. Two similar studies using exactly the same variables may have completely different results, depending on the way each study operationalized the variables. In both the social sciences and the physical sciences, researchers have, over time, developed standard erie for some variables. For example, variables like time, volume, I th a fe, SEX blood pressure, heart beat, 1Q, temperatures, ete, have st ndara 1 cates However, there are very many variables in any fi He are dard measures have not been developed. For exampie: tn were eared methods of measuring sadness, happiness, religiosity there Pe noe from owning a house or a car, etc, Researcher: nae satisfaction det ‘" scales for measuring these abstract concey ee therefore try to devel Pp depending on the emphasis each researcher ey 2nd Such scales differ Construction of measurement instruments wine to a certain concept. and measurement scales will be discussed large, discussed in Chapter 6 We shall first discuss the various types gr this chapter, find in a research study, There are eight comp ntbles that one is likely © variables, These are independent, denenqar” PES or classifications © M control, extraneous, iN 56I\ THE METHOD SECTION tervening, antecedent, suppressor and distorter variables. It is important to note that the types of variables used in a’study influence the statistical method of analysis that can be applied and the type of research design. Independent variables An independent variable is a variable that a researcher manipulates in order to determine its effect or influence on another variable. Independent variables are also called predictor variables because they predict the amount of variation that occurs in another’ variable. Consider the following three examples: 1. The influence of alcohol on reaction time. 2. The influence of income on housing conditions. 3. The influence of gender on career choice. The variables alcohol, income and gender are’ all independent variables. In example one, the amount of alcohol in the blood may incréase reaction time, i.e. one takes longer to react to an emergency while driving. In example two, a high income level means one can afford, a much better house than those at lower income levels. In example three, males may tend to choose certain types of careers while females choose other types of careers. Independent variables can be divided into two: those in which the researcher has manipulative control and those which have already occurred and hence a researcher has no manipulative control. The former are referred to as experimental type of independent variables and the latter are referred to as measurement type of ; t variables. anneal type of independent variables are common in biological hysical sciences. For example, a researcher may want to investigate and pl oes of various amounts of a fertilizer on the yield of wheat. The a ioe end gariable is ‘amounts of fertilizer’. The researcher has control ed variable because he or she is the one who decides the different oe this of the fertilizer to apply t© each experimental wheat field. aoa example would be: to determine the influence of alcohol on reac- tion time, The researcher decides on the amount of alcohol (independent variable) to administer to each subject. 4 Measurement types of independent variables have already occurred; they have fixed manipulative and uninfluenceable properties. Most of these variables are cither environmental oF personalogical. Such variables in 57RESEARCH METHODS ‘ i cation, alti- clude: age, gender, marital status, Tace, colour, g¢08"@P nical location, alt tude, soil type, nationality. ionali For example, one may want to determine the is hace choice of foods. The independent variable ‘nationalit ee ae wanatie happened. We are just measuring and grouping the subjects ‘nationality’ rather than experimentally manipulating it. Dependent variables A dependent variable, sometimes called the criterion variable, attempts to indicate the total influence arising from the effects of the independent vari- able. A dependent variable therefore varies as a function of the indepen- , dent variable. Consider the following examples: 1. The influence of hours studied on performance in a statistics test. 2. The influence of distance from the Supply centre on cost of building materials, 3. The effect of altitude on daily mean temperatures, The variables statistics test performance, ‘cost of bu daily mean temperatures are all dependent variables. researcher may find that the dependent variable, Statistics test *, varies i ilding materials and In example one, the ‘performance ina likely to be. In example two, costs of building materials are like} i of t tob the further the construction site is from the supply centre oft the mata arid in example three, as altitude increases, daily mean temperatures decre holding other factors constant. wersecreasey Control variables If a researcher suspects that a certain variable jg likely to ; research sesults, he or she should control for that hae influence the There are several types of variables that may in eae le in the study. without the researcher being aware of them, Fesults of a study experienced researchers are able to identify varia, : eric their studies may page he Fesults. Previous , Uidigg «omission from usually indicate geste ables tae ine the ican toons val considered in a study. wali Ne the A ae not controlled for are referred i, a cnrals ef a study lOWever. son i les wieve® Serious and 58 esTHE METHOD SECTION Several types of extraneous variables will be discussed later. These will include four very special cases of extraneous variables, namely: in- tervening, antecedent, suppressor and distorter variables. When a possible extraneous variable is built into the study, it is referred to as a control variable. Some researchers refer to control variables as concomitant, covariate or blocking variables. The introduction of a control variable in a research study increases the validity of the data and therefore it leads to more convincing generalizations. However, absolute control of extraneous influence is not possible in any study. It is for this reason that research results are interpreted on the basis of degrees of confidence rather than certainty. The first thing in dealing with a possible extraneous, variable is to assess the relevance to your study of such.a variable. If previous research, theory or professional experience indicate that a certain variable may imfluence your research findings, then you are well advised ‘to control for it. This eliminates the need for controlling for many irrelevant extraneous variables. Once the major extraneous variables are: identified, the researcher controls for them in three basic ways: 1. Build the extraneous variable into the study: 2. Hold the variable constant; consider only one level or category of the variable. 3. Remove the effects of the extraneous variable by statistical procedures. The first method of accounting for the effects of a possible extraneous variable is to include it as an independent variable. For example, if previous studies indicate that gender may, also influence reaction time among drivers, then, in determining the effect of. alcohol on reaction time, we should add sex as an independent variable in our study. Using a statistical procedure such as regression, we can then measure the effect of alcohol on reaction time, controlling for sex. "i s : The second method of controlling extraneous variables is to include them in the study but only at one |eyel. In our example above, reaction time (dependent) is influenced by alcohol levels (independent) and also by sex (extraneous). We can control for seX differences by sampling only female or only males. Our subjects will therefore be homogenous on gender. If age was also a possible extraneous variable, ve onl contol for it by considering sub, between 25 and 35 years old ; The Heaavaniage with this method of controlling extraneous variables is ih Gia eailons are limited to a smaller population, ‘ppat is: We can generalize only among males or females or among persons aged 25-35 Yous 59