Scribd
Upload
455 views

Research Methods - Planning - Variables

There are six common types of variables: dependent variables which show the effect of independent variables; independent variables which are manipulated by the researcher; intervening variables which are abstract processes linking independent and dependent variables; moderator variables which affect the relationship between independent and dependent variables; control variables which are held constant to avoid bias; and extraneous variables which are uncontrolled factors that could impact results.

Uploaded by

Pradeep Kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
455 views

Research Methods - Planning - Variables

There are six common types of variables: dependent variables which show the effect of independent variables; independent variables which are manipulated by the researcher; intervening variables which are abstract processes linking independent and dependent variables; moderator variables which affect the relationship between independent and dependent variables; control variables which are held constant to avoid bias; and extraneous variables which are uncontrolled factors that could impact results.

Uploaded by

Pradeep Kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Very simply, a VARIABLE is a measurable characteristic that varies.

It may change from group to group, person to person, or even within one person over time. There are six common variable types:
DEPENDENT VARIABLES

. . . show the effect of manipulating or introducing the independent variables. For example, if the independent variable is the use or non-use of a new language teaching procedure, then the dependent variable might be students' scores on a test of the content taught using that procedure. In other words, the variation in the dependent variable depends on the variation in the independent variable.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

. . . are those that the researcher has control over. This "control" may involve manipulating existing variables (e.g., modifying existing methods of instruction) or introducing new variables (e.g., adopting a totally new method for some sections of a class) in the research setting. Whatever the case may be, the researcher expects that the independent variable(s) will have some effect on (or relationship with) the dependent variables.
INTERVENING VARIABLES

. . . refer to abstract processes that are not directly observable but that link the independent and dependent variables. In language learning and teaching, they are usually inside the subjects' heads, including various language learning processes which the researcher cannot observe. For example, if the use of a particular teaching technique is the independent variable and mastery of the objectives is the dependent variable, then the language learning processes used by the subjects are the intervening variables.
MODERATOR VARIABLES

. . . affect the relationship between the independent and dependent variables by modifying the effect of the intervening variable(s). Unlike extraneous variables, moderator variables are measured and taken into consideration. Typical moderator variables in TESL and language acquisition research (when they are not the major focus of the study) include the sex, age, culture, or language proficiency of the subjects.
CONTROL VARIABLES

Language learning and teaching are very complex processes. It is not possible to consider every variable in a single study. Therefore, the variables that are not measured in a particular study must be held constant, neutralized/balanced, or eliminated, so they will not have a biasing effect on the other variables. Variables that have been controlled in this way are called control variables.
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES

. . . are those factors in the research environment which may have an effect on the dependent variable(s) but which are not controlled. Extraneous variables are dangerous. They may damage a study's validity, making it impossible to know whether the effects were caused by the independent and moderator variables or some extraneous factor. If they cannot be controlled, extraneous variables must at least be taken into consideration when interpreting results.

You might also like