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1 The Nature of Variables

Variables can be qualities or characteristics that differ based on time or situation. There are three main types of variables: independent variables cause changes in another subject, dependent variables are affected by the independent variables, and extraneous variables unexpectedly impact the relationship between independent and dependent variables. For example, in a study of self-guided learning (independent variable) and test scores (dependent variable), participant variables like age or gender could influence the relationship between the two main variables.

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Zia Zobel
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1K views1 page

1 The Nature of Variables

Variables can be qualities or characteristics that differ based on time or situation. There are three main types of variables: independent variables cause changes in another subject, dependent variables are affected by the independent variables, and extraneous variables unexpectedly impact the relationship between independent and dependent variables. For example, in a study of self-guided learning (independent variable) and test scores (dependent variable), participant variables like age or gender could influence the relationship between the two main variables.

Uploaded by

Zia Zobel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Nature of Variables

Variables

• Are “changing qualities or characteristics” of persons or things like age, gender, intelligence,
ideas, achievements, confidence, and so on that are involved in your research study.

• Made up of the root or base word “vary” which means to undergo changes or to differ from,
variables have different or varying values in relation to time and situation.

Types of Variables

• Independent variables are those that cause changes in the subject

• Dependent variables are those that bear or manifest the effects caused by the independent
variables.

Variable Relationships

• In a scientific way of studying cause-effect relationships, independent and dependent variable


are part and parcel of the research because the first one is the cause; the second, the effect that you can
subject to any form of measurement.

• However, as you carry out the research, it is possible that one, two, or more variables or extra
variables crop up to create an impact on the relationship between the independent and dependent
variables. Being extra variables, they form this other type of variables called extraneous variables.

• For example, in the case of SFG vs. IC, (the first as the independent variable; the second as the
dependent variable) extraneous variables like age, gender, or personality traits may suddenly surface to
create effects on the relationships of the two basic variables. Such extraneous variables are called
participant variables if they refer to the moods, emotions, or intelligence of the subject; situational
variables, if they pertain to nature of the place: smelly, chilly, cold, hot, spacious, and the like.

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