LESSON 2 & 3

VARIABLES IN
QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
MELC: Differentiates kinds of variables and their
uses

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be
able to:
A.Define what variable is;
B.Identify independent and dependent
variable in a given example;
C.Compare the different variables using T-
Charts
 WHAT ARE
VARIABLES?
Each person/thing we collect data on is
called an observation. Such observation
possesses a variety of characteristics, it
could be the same for every member of the
group and called constant. But if the
characteristic of a particular observation
differs for group members, it is called a
variable.
The root of the word variable is related to the “vary” Nag-iiba
which should help us understand what variables
might be.
Variables are elements or entities, or
factors that can change; for example,
temperature, the cost of gasoline and your
weight are all examples of variables. A
variable is not only something that we
could measure, but also something that we
can manipulate and something we can
control.
Variables are any characteristics of some event,
object, or person that can take on different
values or amounts such as gender, age, self-
esteem.
A variable is any parameter in the experiment
that can change. It is something that you
measure, can manipulate and control.
 Variables

Continuous Discrete Independent Dependent Control Intervening Confounding

Variable Variables Variables Variable Variable Variable Variable

Interval Nominal
Variables Variables

Ratio Ordinal
Variables Variables
TYPE OF VARIABLES

A. CONTINUOUS VARIABLE
- Interval Variables
- Ratio Variables
B. Discrete Variables
- Nominal Variables
- Ordinal Variables
A. Continuous Variable
1. Interval Variables: Values that lie along with an evenly
dispersed range of numbers. It is a variable whose
data values are ranged in the real interval and can be
as large as from negative infinity to positive infinity.
Measured on a continuous scale and has no zero point.

Example:
Time- moves along a continuous measure or seconds,
minutes and so on and it is without a zero point of time
Temperature – moves along a continuous measure of
degrees and is without a true zero
A. Continuous Variable
2. Ratio Variables: Have values that
lie along with an evenly dispersed
range of numbers when there is an
absolute zero.
• Examples of ratio variables include:
• Age, weight, height
B. Discrete Variables
1.Nominal Variables: Represents categories
that cannot be ordered in any particular
way. These are variables whose data is non-
numeric labels that do not reflect quantitative
information.
Examples:
blood type, zip code, gender, race, eye color,
political party
B. Discrete Variables
2. Ordinal Variables: Represents categories that could be
ordered from smallest to greatest. It refers to variables where
there is meaningful order or categories but there is no
measurable distance between categories.
Examples:
Socio economic status (“low income”, “middle income”, “high
income”),
Education level (“high school”,”BS”,”MS”,”PhD”),
Income level (“less than 50K”, “50K-100K”, “over 100K”),
Satisfaction rating (“extremely dislike”, “dislike”, “neutral”,
“like”, “extremely like”)
OTHER TYPES OF VARIABLES
Independent Variables
Variables that are manipulated or controlled or
changed. It is what the researcher studies to see
its relationship or effects (presumed possible
cause). In other words, independent variables are
those that cause changes in the subject.
• Independent Variable
(experimental/controlled/ predictor variable) is
a variable that is being manipulated in an
experiment in order to examine the effect this
has on a dependent variable (outcome variable).
Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is a response

variable or output. It is the factor that is
observed and measured to determine the
effect of the independent variable; it is the
factor that appears, disappears and varies
as the researcher introduces, removes or
varies the independent variable.
Control Variable
Control variables are factors controlled by the
experimenter to cancel out or neutralize any effect
on the observed phenomenon. A single study
cannot examine all of the variables in a situation or
in a person; some must be neutralized to guarantee
they will not exert different or moderating effects on
the relationship between the dependent and
independent variable.
Example: The temperature and light in the
room the plants are kept constant, and the
volume of water given.
CONTROL VARIABLE
Is an extraneous (unimportant)
variable that an investigator does
not wish to examine in a study

It is something that is constant (unchanged)

and unaffected in an experiment.
 HOW MUCH
AMOUNT OF THE PLANTS
LIGHT
GROW
(independent
variable) (dependent
variable)

WATER AND FERTILIZER

(CONTROL VARIABLES)
 F. Intervening Variable
• It is the factor that theoretically affect observed
phenomenon but cannot be seen, measured or
manipulated; its effects must be inferred from
the effects of the independent and moderate
variable in the observed phenomenon.
• Is a variable that explains a relation or provides
a causal link between other variables.
• It comes between the independent and
dependent variables and explains the link or
mechanism between them.
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE

Is a variable that makes

vague the effects of another
variable.

09/29/2023 Practical Research II/Inquiries, Investigations, and Im 28

mersion
Confounding Variable

Those that are not actually measured

or observed in the study. They exist
but their influence cannot be directly
detected in the study.
 MODERATING VARIABLE
Is one that has a strong contingent
(possible but not certain) effect on
the independent variable-dependent
variable relationship.
The presence of a third variable
(moderating variable) modifies the
original relationship between the
independent and the dependent variable.
 Quality of Library
Facilities Performance of the
(independent student
variable) (dependent variable)

Interest and inclination of the

students
(moderating variables)
It is the factor that is measured, manipulated or
selected by the experimenter to discover whether
it modifies the relationship of the independent
variable to an observed phenomenon. The term
moderating variable describes a special type of
independent variable, a secondary independent
variable selected to determine if it affects the
relationship between the study’s primary
independent variable and its dependent variable.
It means that only those students who
have the interest and inclination to make
use of the library will demonstrate
enhanced performance in their studies.
In this relationship, interest and
inclination is a moderating variable which
moderates the strength of the relationship
between x (independent variable) and y
(dependent variables).

MODERATE- To make (something) strong, or severe or to become

less strong or severe

It increases or decrease the relationship of independent and

dependent variable
 Keywords

Independent – cause
Dependent- Effect
Control – constant/unchanged
Intervening – causal link
Confounding – not actually measured or
observed
Moderating - increases or decrease the
relationship of independent and dependent
variable
ACTIVITY 1: WHICH IS WHICH?
Directions: Carefully read the statements below
and try to identify the dependent and independent
variable. Write your answers on your notebook.
Dependent Variable: Variables that represents the
outcome of the experiment.
Independent Variable: Variables you manipulate
to affect the outcome of an experiment.
1.A student studies 3 types of bread. He
measured the time it takes to grow
molds.
DV: ___________________________
IV: ____________________________
b. The masses of rats were
measured after they were fed with
different types of cheese
DV:
_______________________________
IV:
________________________________
C. A student changes the number of
hours he studies for a test to see how it
affects his score
DV: ______________________________
IV: _______________________________
D. Eating breakfast in the morning
can increase test scores in math.
DV: ___________________________
IV: ____________________________
ACTIVITY 2: LOOKING FOR
DIFFERENCES
Directions: Create a 2 T-Charts on your
notebook and compare the following variables
according to their uses.

a. Independent and Dependent Variable

b.Control Variable and Intervening Variable
Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Confounding Variable Intervening Variable

 Seatwork
Directions: Using your phone and internet connection,
search for at least 3 titles related to your own filed of
specialization (HUMSS, STEM, TVL, GAS, ABM) and try to
identify the dependent and independent variable. Search for
researches which used experimental design. Use the
template found below:
RESEARCH TITLE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

1.

2.

3.
PREPARE FOR
A SUMMATIVE
TEST NEXT
MEETING