Definition of Terms

-It is necessary in research in order for the researcher and the reader to be thinking in terms of the same
thing.
-Definition of important concepts to use in research makes these terms precise in the sense that no two
individuals would associate two different meanings to them.
Defining terms is of great concern because…
• You yourself should completely grasp what you mean by the words you use
• You should be able to communicate successfully to your readers.
TYPES OF Definition
a. CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION
– also known as constitutive; is that which is given in dictionaries.
– It is the academic or universal meaning attributed to a word or group of words.
– It is mostly abstract and formal in nature.
b. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
– Also known as functional definition
TWO FORMS OF OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:
1. Measured Operational Definition states the way the concept is measured in the investigation.
2. In Experimental Operational Definition, the researcher may spell out the details of the
manipulation of a variable.
EXAMPLES
Instructor: a person who teaches or gives information. In this study, this term has been used to include
all teachers teaching collegiate courses from the rank of assistant instructor to professor.
Non-Intellective factors: it is the non-cognitive components or determiners of performance (Good,
1959). In this study, non-intellective factors used as possible correlates of scholastic achievement are
socio-economic status, study habits and attitudes, study orientation, 11 occupational interests and 16
personality factors.
The variable
A variable is a characteristic that has two or more mutually exclusive values or properties.
Variables are constructs or properties being investigated (Kerlinger, 1973).
If you observe that there is only one characteristic in the participants that you are studying, this
characteristic is not a variable but rather a constant.
Setting your variables
Which among the characteristics or measures do you intend to be your outcome or objective?
– This question asks for the CRITERION VARIABLE or DEPENDENT VARIABLE
What characteristics or conditions will make the outcome or objective vary or differ?
– This question asks for the VARIATE or INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
-Some sources describe the independent variable as the CAUSE and the dependent variable as the
RESULT.
– When there is grouping in a study, the independent variable is the basis on which the
grouping is made. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is what is measured after grouping at the
end of the study.
The dependent variable is the object of the investigation.
TYPES OF VARIABLE
Dependent or Criterion variable: is the outcome or objective of the study.
Variate or Independent variable: is that property or characteristic that makes the outcome or objective
vary or differ.
**A variable that is dependent in one investigation may be independent in another.
TYPES OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
• Non-manipulable variables:
– factors such as sex, mental ability, socio-economic status, aptitude, race and age are
examples.
– These are non-manipulable because their status cannot be changed.
– They are also called assigned, organismic, classificatory or attribute.
• Manipulable variables:
– variables such as reinforcement, method, use of instructional materials, use of feedback and
others are manipulable.
– They are also called active variables.
– There is the possibility of randomly assigning individuals or group.
Dependent Variables Defined
Dependent variables are factors studied in terms of how they change in relation to independent
variables. In a scientific study, the dependent variable is the variable that the researcher is testing and
measuring in relation to the independent variable. The researcher is seeking to determine whether or not
manipulating the independent variable will lead to different outcomes regarding the dependent variable.
 If a scientist is exploring what factors might lead to changes in a person's weight, then "weight"
would be a dependent variable. The researcher could use exact weight in pounds/ounces or
grams, or define weight range categories.
 If an educational researcher wants to explore what factors might lead to mastery of Microsoft
Excel usage, then "mastery of Microsoft Excel usage" would be a dependent variable. The
researcher would need to define mastery, which might be performing certain tasks without error
or scoring in a certain range on a test.
Independent Variables Defined
In a study or experiment, independent variables are referred to as treatment variables. They do not
change in relation to other factors. Instead, scientific researchers explore whether or not an independent
variable causes, leads to or is associated with a change in one or more dependent variables.
 When considering weight as a dependent variable, scientists might explore independent variables
like calorie consumption, carbohydrate consumption, protein consumption, refined sugar
consumption, activity level, or other factors that could reasonably impact how much a person
weighs.
 When exploring Microsoft Excel mastery as a dependent variable, researchers could explore the
impact of independent variables such as time spent practicing, completion of training, years of
experience with the application, or other factors that could potentially impact someone's ability
to use Excel effectively.

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Independent and Dependent Variables in Studies

Every scientific experiment has at least one independent variable and one dependent variable, based on
the research question(s) being explored. In any given study, a particular variable has to be either
dependent or independent. A variable cannot be both types at the same time.

For example, If a scientist conducts an experiment to test the theory that a particular vitamin could
extend a person’s life expectancy, then:

 The independent variable is the amount of the vitamin that is given to the subjects within the
experiment. This is controlled by the experimenting scientist.

 The dependent variable, or the variable being affected by the independent variable, is life span.

In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as height, age,
species, or exam score.

In scientific research, we often want to study the effect of one variable on another one. For example, you
might want to test whether students who spend more time studying get better exam scores.

The variables in a study of a cause-and-effect relationship are called the independent and dependent
variables.

 The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study.
 The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.

In experimental research, the independent variable is manipulated or changed by the experimenter to

measure the effect of this change on the dependent variable.

Example

You are studying the impact of a new medication on the blood pressure of patients with hypertension.
To test whether the medication is effective, you divide your patients into two groups. One group takes
the medication, while the other group takes a sugar pill placebo.

 Your independent variable is the treatment that you vary between groups: which type of pill the
patient receives.
 Your dependent variable is the outcome that you measure: the blood pressure of the patients.

Theory and the review of the related literature

• Definition of Theory:
– A set of interrelated constructs (concepts), definitions and propositions that presents a
systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables, with the purpose of explaining
and predicting the phenomena (Kerlinger, 1973).
• Theory links your topic to an available body of knowledge.
• In search of the theory, you gather information mostly from the related of literature
Functions of theory
• It identifies the start for the research problem by presenting the gaps, weak points, and inconsistencies
in the previous researches.
• It puts together all the constructs or concepts that are related with the researcher’s topic.
• It presents the relationships among variables that have been investigated.
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The review of related literature
The review of related literature involves the systematic identification, location and analysis of
documents containing information related to the research problem
Functions of review of related literature
• It provides the conceptual or theoretical framework of the planned research.
• It provides you with the information about the past researches related to the intended study. This
process prevents unintentional duplication of these past researches and leads you into what needs to be
investigated.
• It gives you the feeling of confidence since by means of review of related literature you will have on
hand all constructs related to your study.
• It gives you information about the research methods used, the population and sampling considered, the
instruments used in gathering the data, and the statistical computation in previous research. The related
literature can answer all the questions that you need to ask related to the foregoing stages in research.
• It provides findings and conclusions of past investigations which you may relate to your own findings
and conclusions.
Kinds of related literature
• Research literature refers to the published or unpublished reports of actual research studies done
previously.
• Conceptual literature pertains to articles or books written by authorities giving their opinions,
experiences, theories or ideas of what is good and bad, desirable and undesirable within the problem
area.
about review of related literature…
• The library is usually the source of both conceptual and research literature.
A good tip for you is to be ready to spend the whole day or even days in the library. Flitting visits to the
library will not give you beneficial results.
• Fox (1969) suggests that you start reviewing conceptual literature first since it is more readily available
than research literature.
• The card catalog is to a library as the index is to a book. However, there are varied kinds of indexes
that can help you get access to information.
• Theses and dissertations, as well as abstracts, are other sources of the literature.
• Demonstrate a critical and evaluative mind in judging the profitability of the material.
• Outline important areas of the investigation on an index card, one source to a card.
• Note down specific techniques to get insights on what you will do on your own thesis. Pay attention to
sampling procedures, instruments used and statistical tools employed.
• Review the results, conclusions and recommendations. You can accumulate gaps and inconsistencies
among the constructs you are reviewing.
Guide questions in Reviewing research literature
• Do you think that the problem questions stated in the study you are reviewing are researchable?
• Do the hypotheses lend themselves to testing?
• Do the accumulated literature indicate gaps and inconsistencies which the researcher of the thesis
hopes to fill?
• Are the variables adequately described?

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• What data gathering instruments have been used? Are they reliable and valid tools?
• A re the target and sampling populations presented?
• Were the hypotheses tested and correctly interpreted?
• Are the results logical?
• Are the conclusions and recommendations data based?
The THEORETICAL / CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
• Framework : skeletal or structural frame
• Theoretical : relating to or having the characteristics of theory.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: set of interrelated constructs (concepts), definitions and
propositions that presents a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables. –
Basis of the research problem
Three styles of presenting the theoretical framework
• STYLE NO. 1
– The theoretical framework is integrated with the problem in Chapter 1 of the thesis report.
– There is no Review of Related Literature as a separate chapter but it is incorporated in Chapter 1.
– The term Theoretical or Conceptual Framework may or may not be labeled in this chapter.
– This design is also known as journalistic style
STYLE NO. 2
– The theoretical framework is included in Chapter 1 and labelled as such.
– There is a separate chapter for the Review and Related Literature
STYLE NO. 3
– The usual contents of Chapter 1 are presented.
– Chapter 2 consists of the Related Literature
– The theoretical framework is labelled at the end of chapter two.
– It is understood here that the related literature is already part of the theoretical or conceptual
framework.

Post Assessment:
I. Identify the dependent and independent variables in each research title below:
1. The Effect of a Training Program on the Visual Sequential Memory of Deaf Children
2. Age, Sex, IQ and Entrance Examination Scores on Certain Piagetian Tasks of Manila Science High
School Students
3. The Effects of Integrating Science and Mathematics and Varying the Pace of Learning on Science
Achievement of Pupils and Their Attitude towards the Individualized Set Up
II. Explain.
1. How essential is research in your life? (10 points)

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