Research Variables

This paper is made to fulfil assignment of lecture

“Quantitative Research Methodology”

The Lecturer:

Dr.Sri Wahyuni, M.Pd.

Arranged by:

1. Roihatul Jannah (932208918)

2. Muhammad Andriawan S. (932209018)
3. Atika Nur Fadilla (932209218)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHERS TRAINING

STATE ISLAMIC INSTITUTE (IAIN) OF KEDIRI

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A. Introduction
People have a lot of question in this life. They want to know about what,
why, or even how something is going. As explained in Cambridge dictionary "a
detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or
reach a (new) understanding", research used to discover something. A research
is constructed by some components. One of the components is research variable,
which is the most important component. A variable is a property or
characteristic of things and people that vary in quality and quantity (Apuke,
2017). A variable is not only something that you measure, but also something
that you can manipulate and control for. So a research variable define as
everything that is chosen by researcher to be learnt.

B. Discussion
1. Operational Definition
Operational Definition is a definition given to a variable to give an
indicator or specifications about the activities in measuring the variable
(Ferdinand, 2006). An operational definition indicates how the concept is
measured or manipulated. The operational definition of a variable is the
specific way in which it is measured in that study. In a simple word
operational definition is a detail specification given by the researcher about
how the researcher measures the variable. In a study, variables need to be
identified, classified and operationally identified clearly and firmly so as not
to cause errors in data collection and processing and in hypothesis testing.
2. Research Variables
Most experts define research variables as conditions which the researcher
manipulates, controls, or observes in a study. In addition, several other
experts stated that the research variable is anything that will be the object of
research observations. From these two definitions, it can be explained that
the research variables include the factors that play a role in the events or
symptoms being studied. Variable is key term of research.Every research
involves variables to be measured.Whenthe variables are not clear, it is
difficult for the researcher to conduct the research.Variableis thefocus in any

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research.Variable is “characteristics that tend to differ from individual to
individual, though anytwo or more individuals may have the same variable
trait or measure ” (Charles, C.M. 1995: 29)

a. Sub-varibles
Sub-varible is a branch of variables that should be learnt by the
researcher to get a specific result about what they want to study. It is a
part of a variable and it is used to get a detail result of study. For
example, you want to study about English skill then you break it into
speaking, writing, reading, and listening skill.
b. Independent Variable
An independent variable is a variable that is being manipulated in
an experiment in order to observe the effect on a dependent variable. So
it always sides by sides with dependent variable.' This variable has an
influence or causes changes in other variables. So it can be said that
changes that occur in this variable are assumed to result in changes in
other variables. For example, if in a study it is stated that it will try to
reveal the "influence of learning motivation on student achievement", the
independent variable is "learning motivation". It is called an independent
variable because this variable does not depend on other variables.
Meanwhile, the variable "learning achievement" depends on and is
influenced by the variable "learning motivation". This independent or
independent variable is also commonly referred to as the stimulus
variable, influence and predictors. In structural equation capitalization,
independent variables are called exogenous variables.
c. Dependent Variable
The dependent variable represents the result of the treatment from
the independent variable. Related to the example of the independent
variable, the dependent variable will look like 'By using audiovisual in
Language learning, the learner is more enthusiast and understand the
lesson. a variable whose existence becomes a consequence due to the
independent variable. It is called a related variable because the condition
or the variation is related and influenced by the variation of other

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 variables. In addition there are also other terms, namely the dependent
variable, because the variation depends on the variation of other
variables. Then there are those who mention the output variables,
criteria, response, and indogeneity. Examples of dependent variables: If a
researcher wants to reveal "the effect of learning motivation on student
achievement" then the dependent variable is "student achievement". This
variable is called the dependent variable because high and low student
achievement depends on the learning motivation variable.
d. Extraneous Variable
Extraneous variables are any variables that you are not
intentionally studying in your experiment or test. When you run an
experiment, you’re looking to see if one variable (the independent
variable) has an effect on another variable (the dependent variable). This
variable, as name, can confound the experiment because it effects the
dependent variable. Extraneous variable is not an independent variable
but it can influence the outcome of an experiment.
A simple example: you want to know if online learning increases
student understanding of statistics. One group uses an online knowledge
base to study, the other group uses a traditional text. Extraneous
variables could include prior knowledge of statistics; you would have to
make sure that group A roughly matched group B with prior knowledge
before starting the study. Other extraneous variables could include
amount of support in the home, socio-economic income, or temperature
of the testing room.

 There are four types of extraneous variables :

1. Situational Variables : 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.
2. Participant / Person Variable : This refers to the ways in
which each participant varies from the other, and how this

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 could affect the results e.g. mood, intelligence, anxiety,
nerves, concentration etc.
3. Experimenter / Investigator Effects : The experimenter
unconsciously conveys to participants how they should
behave - this is called experimenter bias. The experiment
might do this by giving unintentional clues to the participants
about what the experiment is about and how they expect them
to behave. This affects the participants’ behavior.
4. Demand Characteristics : Environmental clues which tell the
participant how to behave, like features in the surrounding or
researcher’s non-verbal behavior.

e. Moderator Variable
Moderator Variable is described as third variable that changes the
relationship between Independent and Dependent variable. Moderation
occurs when the magnitude and/or direction of the relation between two
variables depend on the value of a third variable called a moderator
variable. The aims of moderator Variable is to measure the strength of IV
and DV correlation. The example, age is the moderator Variable between
environment (IV) and education (DV). Then, the relationship between
environment and education is stronger for older people and less strong
for young people.
f. Intervening Variable
An intervening variable is a hypothetical variable used to explain
causal links between other variables. Intervening variables cannot be
observed in an experiment (that’s why they are hypothetical). Boston
University defines an intervening variable as “A control variable that
follows an independent variable but precedes the dependent variable in a
causal sequence.” So you could also look at intervening variables in
terms of the independent variable and dependent variable; the
intervening variable intervenes or mediates between the two.Intervening
variable (sometimes called mediator variable) is a variable which
occupies the middle position between IV and DV. It is used when IV

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 indirectly affect the DV so the IV needs a mediator. In statistics, an
intervening variable is usually considered to be a sub-type of mediating
variable. However, the lines between the two terms are somewhat fuzzy,
and they are often used interchangeably. Example, education (IV) is
influencing work occupation (intervening variable), then work
occupation is influencing salary (DV). When the effect of work
occupation is removed, the relationship between education and salary
disappears.

g. Controlling Variable
One of the important parts of experimental research is controlling
variables. The Controlled variable is a variable that is made to keep
constant, whether fixed or eliminated. The control variables use to
control Extraneous variable or confounding variable so that the result
will not skewed. This type of variable is a variable that is limited and
whose influence is controlled so that it does not affect the symptoms
being studied, in other words, the impact of the independent variable on
the dependent variable is not influenced by external factors that are not
studied. In some studies this variable is not stated explicitly, but rather in
experimental research. This variable requires a very important control.
This is done in such a way with the aim of reducing the complexity of
the problem being studied. Besides being used for experimental research,
control variables are also often used by researchers when they want to do
research that is comparative in nature.
For example, the effect of learning methods on student
achievement. The independent variable in this variable is the teaching
method, while the dependent variable is the student's learning
achievement. The variables that are set are the same, namely the same
subjects, for example, chemistry lessons. With the determination of the
control variable, the impact of the magnitude of the influence of teaching
on student learning achievement can be known more with certainty.

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C. Conclusion
The operational definition is really important in a research in order to
make readers understand how the researcher measure the variables. There are
some types of research variable that used by the researcher. There are sub-
varible, independent variable, dependent variable, extraneous variable,
intervening variable, and controlling variable. In brief, a research variable will
show what the researcher concern is.

Reference
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McLeod, S. A. (2019, July 30). Extraneous variable. Simply Psychology.
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