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The Types of Variables

The document outlines various types of variables used in research, including binary, categorical, continuous, and latent variables, among others. It explains the roles of confounding, control, and intervening variables in studies, as well as the concept of dummy variables for categorical data. Each variable type is defined with examples to illustrate their application in statistical analysis.

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11 views

The Types of Variables

The document outlines various types of variables used in research, including binary, categorical, continuous, and latent variables, among others. It explains the roles of confounding, control, and intervening variables in studies, as well as the concept of dummy variables for categorical data. Each variable type is defined with examples to illustrate their application in statistical analysis.

Uploaded by

issam.elsayed2004
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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Types of Variables

Binary variable: Observations (i.e., dependent variables) that occur in one of two
possible states, often labeled zero and one. E.g., “improved/not improved” and
“completed task/failed to complete task.”
Dichotomous variable: Synonym for binary variable

Categorical Variable: Usually an independent or predictor variable that contains values


indicating membership in one of several possible categories. E.g., gender (male or
female), marital status (married, single, divorced, widowed). The categories are often
assigned numerical values used as labels, e.g., 0 = male; 1 = female. Synonym for
nominal variable.

Confounding variable: A variable that hides the effects of another variable. If one
elementary reading teacher used a phonics textbook in her class and another instructor
used a whole language textbook in his class, and students in the two classes were given
achievement tests to see how well they read, the independent variables (teacher
effectiveness and textbooks) would be confounded. There is no way to determine if
differences in reading between the two classes were caused by either or both of the
independent variables.

Continuous variable: A variable that is not restricted to particular values (other than
limited by the accuracy of the measuring instrument). E.g., reaction time, neuroticism,
IQ. Equal size intervals on different parts of the scale are assumed, if not demonstrated.
Interval variable: Synonym for continuous variable.

Discrete variable: Variable having only integer values. For example, number of trials
need by a student to learn a memorization task.

Control variable: An extraneous variable that an investigator does not wish to examine
in a study. Thus the investigator controls this variable. Also called a covariate.

Criterion variable: The presumed effect in a no experimental study. The criterion


variable is the dependent variable, or Y hat, in a regression analysis. The criterion
variable is the variable that the analysis predicts.

Dummy Variables: Created by recoding categorical variables that have more than two
categories into a series of binary variables. E.g., Marital status, if originally labeled 1=
married, 2=single, and 3=divorced, widowed, or separated, could be redefined in terms of
two variables as follows: var_1: 1=single, 0=otherwise. Var_2: 1=divorced, widowed, or
separated, 0=otherwise. For a married person, both var_1 and var_2 would be zero. In
general, a categorical variable with k categories would be recorded in terms of k - 1
dummy variable. Dummy variables are used in regression analysis to avoid the
unreasonable assumption that the original numerical codes for the categories, i.e., the
values 1, 2, ..., k, correspond to an interval scale. Use: to place cases in specific groups.

Endogenous variable: A variable that is an inherent part of the system being studied and
that is determined from within the system. A variable that is caused by other variables in
a causal system.

Exogenous variable: A variable entering from and determined from outside of the
system being studied. A causal system says nothing about its exogenous variables.

Intervening variable: A variable that explains a relation or provides a causal link


between other variables. Also called by some authors “mediating variable” or
“intermediary variable.” Example: The statistical association between income and
longevity needs to be explained because just having money does not make one live
longer. Other variables intervene between money and long life. People with high incomes
tend to have better medical care than those with low incomes. Medical care is an
intervening variable. It mediates the relation between income and longevity.

Latent variable: An underlying variable that cannot be observed. The term hidden
variables is commonly used (reflecting the fact that the variables are "really there", but
hidden). Quality of life is a latent variable which cannot be measured directly so
observable variables are used to infer quality of life. Observable variables to measure
quality of life include wealth, employment, environment, physical and mental health,
education, recreation and leisure time, and social belonging.

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