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Kinds of Variables and Their Uses

The document discusses different types of variables that can be used in research studies. It describes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio variables based on their properties. It also discusses different kinds of variables, including independent variables that influence outcomes, dependent variables that depend on the independent variables, intervening variables that show the effect of independent variables on dependents, and control variables that are measured to potentially influence dependent variables. Two examples are provided of studies examining the effects of different diets on rat aging and megadoses of vitamin C on cancer patients.

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Matthew Iting
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13 views18 pages

Kinds of Variables and Their Uses

The document discusses different types of variables that can be used in research studies. It describes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio variables based on their properties. It also discusses different kinds of variables, including independent variables that influence outcomes, dependent variables that depend on the independent variables, intervening variables that show the effect of independent variables on dependents, and control variables that are measured to potentially influence dependent variables. Two examples are provided of studies examining the effects of different diets on rat aging and megadoses of vitamin C on cancer patients.

Uploaded by

Matthew Iting
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kinds of

Variables and
their Uses
Case 1:
To determine whether a diet of blueberries have
an effect on aging, an experiment involving 19-
month-old rats was undertaken. In this study, one
group of rats was fed with their standard diet
while the other three groups were fed with a diet
supplemented with blueberry, strawberry, or
spinach powder, respectively. After eight weeks,
the rats were given a memory test and motor
skills test.
Case 2:
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), if given in mega
doses, is known to reduce the occurrences of
cancer cells. To test this hypothesis, patients
with known cancers were given megadoses of
vitamin C for 12 weeks. After twelve weeks,
screening tests were done to determine the
decrease of cancer cells.
A variable is a characteristic of an
individual or organization that can be
observed and measure, and it can vary
among people or organizations being
studied (Creswell, 2002). It comes from
the root word “vary” or simply “can
change”.
Bernard (1994) defines variables as
something that can take more than one
value, and values can be words or
numbers. The most common variables in
social research are age, sex, gender,
education, income, marital status, and
education.
Other experts define a variable as any
entity that can take on different
values. Simply stated, anything that
can vary can be considered a variable.
An attribute, on the other hand, is a
specific value on a variable.
Other experts define a variable as any
entity that can take on different
values. Simply stated, anything that
can vary can be considered a variable.
An attribute, on the other hand, is a
specific value on a variable.
FOUR TYPES
OF A
VARIABLE
1. NOMINAL VARIABLE
– represent categories that cannot be
ordered in any particular way.

2. ORDINAL VARIABLE
– represent categories that can be
ordered from greatest to smallest.
3. . INTERVAL VARIABLE
– have values that lie along an evenly
dispersed range of numbers.

4. RATIO VARIABLE – have variables


that lie along the evenly dispersed range of
numbers when there is an absolute zero. It
possesses the properties of the interval
variable and has a clear definition of zero.
KINDS OF
VARIABLES
1. INDEPENDENT
VARIABLES
– those that probably cause,
influence, or affect outcomes.
They are invariably called
treatment, manipulated,
antecedent, or predictor variables.
Examples:
A study on the relationship of
parental support and academic
performance of Senior High
School students in Narra National
High School.
2. DEPENDENT VARIABLES
– those that depend on the
independent variables; they are the
outcomes or results on the
influence of the independent
variable
3. INTERVENING VARIABLE
OR MEDIATING VARIABLE
– “stand between” the independent
and dependent variables, and they
show the effects of the
independent variable on the
dependent variable.
4. CONTROL VARIABLE – special
types of independent variables that
are measured in a study because they
potentially influence the dependent
variable.
Examples: In a study, “Determining the
Effects of Exposure to Different Colored
Lights on the Growth of the Plant”,
the control variables are the type of plant, the
amount of soil, and the amount of water given
to the plants. These variables are controlled so
that the plant growth can be attributed with
certainty to exposure to different colored
lights.

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