Scribd
Upload
33 views25 pages

02 Variables and Hypothesis

The document discusses different types of variables that can be used in research such as independent, dependent, intervening, moderating, and confounding variables. It also discusses quantitative and qualitative variables as well as different research designs and the process of conceptualization and operationalization in research.

Uploaded by

agharizwanali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views25 pages

02 Variables and Hypothesis

The document discusses different types of variables that can be used in research such as independent, dependent, intervening, moderating, and confounding variables. It also discusses quantitative and qualitative variables as well as different research designs and the process of conceptualization and operationalization in research.

Uploaded by

agharizwanali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 25

Advanced Methods in Mass

Communication Research
By

Dr. Sajid Hussain


Variable?
• Not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to
change.
• Able to be changed or adapted.
• An element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or
change.
• A variable in research simply refers to a person,
place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to
measure in some way.
Variable?
• Any entity that can take on different values.
• Anything that can vary is considered a variable.
e.g. age can take different values for different
people or for the same person at different times.
• Gender, color and country, etc. are all perfectly
acceptable variables, because they are inherently
changeable.
Major Types of Variable
• The independent variable is the variable the
experimenter manipulates or changes, and is assumed
to have an effect on the dependent variable.
• Dependent Variable. The variable that depends on
other factors that are measured. These variables are
expected to change as a result of an experimental
manipulation of the independent variable or variables.
Variables in Research
• Independent variable:
has a presumed effect on the dependent variable (outcome)
• Dependent variable:
Something that varies with a change in the independent variable. It is
also called Outcome variable or response variable.
Quantitative & Qualitative Variables
• Quantitative: Any data sets that involve numbers
or amounts.
• Examples: Height, distance or number of items.
• Types: Discrete and Continuous
• Qualitative: Non-numerical values or groupings.
• Examples: Symbols, words, sentences and phrases
etc.
• Types: Binary, nominal and ordinal
Discrete & Continuous
• Discrete: Any numerical variables you can
realistically count, such as the coins in your wallet or
the money in your savings account.
• Continuous: Numerical variables that you could never
finish counting, such as time. It is also called infinite
value.
Binary, Nominal and Ordinal
• Binary: Variables with only two categories, such as
male or female, red or blue.
• Nominal: Variables you can organize in more than
two categories that do not follow a particular order.
Take, for example, housing types: Single-family
home, apartment house, tiny home.
• Ordinal: Variables you can organize in more than two
categories that follow a particular order. Take, for
example, level of satisfaction: Unsatisfied, neutral,
satisfied.
Intervening & Moderating Variables
• Moderating variables: Tells about the relationship
between dependent and independent variables by
strengthening or weakening the intervening
variable's effect.

• Intervening & Mediating: A theoretical variable


used to create a cause or connection or link between
independent and dependent variables.
Intervening & Moderating Variables
Extraneous (Control) & Confounding
Variables
• Extraneous (Control): Factor that has the potential to
affect the dependent variable but that the researcher
did not originally consider when designing the study.

• Confounding: (Uncontrolled or confusing form of


extraneous variable) extra variables that the
researcher did not account for that can disguise
another variable's effects and show false correlations
What is Experimental Design?
• Experimental design is how you plan to analyze the relationships between variables
in your study.

• How do I Design an experiment?


• When designing an experiment, you should:
• Determine the question you are trying to answer.
• List your independent and dependent variables, plus any control, confounding or
additional variables.
• Write a hypothesis that you believe your experiment will prove.
• Decide how much you want to manipulate your independent variable.
• Determine the number of samples or subjects in your study.
Narrowing the Research Topic

• Idea → Brainstorming

• Literature Review

• Separate Identified Research Gaps

• Identify the Variables for Study

• Formulate Research Problems

• Make Questions or Hypotheses


13
Research Questions
• Research Studies do not always Contain
Hypotheses

• Exploratory and Descriptive Studies may


pose Research Questions instead.

14
A Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied

3. The testability of the question

15
Guidelines for Writing Research
Questions
• Start with a Simple Question
• Has One Stem (stop) and One Topic

• Action-Oriented
• The way you ask a question determines how you will
answer it.

16
Writing the Research Question
• Examples:
• What are the beliefs of the media audience?

• What is the relationship between media coverage and opinion of


users?

• Why does excessive usage of media have bad impact on


interpersonal communication?

17
Hypothesis

• Statement about the Relationship between 2 or more variables

• Converts the question into a statement that predicts an expected


outcome

• A Unit or Subset of the Research Problem

18
Hypothesis
Hypothesis is a testable statement or assumption.

• People refer to a trial solution to a problem as a hypothesis, often


called an "educated guess" because it provides a suggested
solution based on the evidence.
- Experimenters may test and reject several hypotheses before solving
the problem.
• A hypothesis requires more work by the researcher in order to either
confirm or disprove it.
Hypothesis
• In due course, a confirmed hypothesis may become part of a
theory or occasionally may grow to become a theory itself.

• A Working Hypothesis is a provisionally accepted


hypothesis proposed for further research.
Hypotheses
• Hypotheses may not always be plainly stated

• Wording must include:


• The variables

• The population being studied

• The predicted outcome of the hypothesis

21
Conceptualization and Operationalization
Research has two phases

Conceptualization
• Conceptualization: It is the phase during which researchers
understand the concepts, techniques and methods, identify
research questions, and establish conceptual or theoretical
framework, objectives and hypotheses for their research.
Steps in Conceptualization
• Literature Review on Concepts, Sub-concepts, Methods,
Theories and Theoretical Frameworks.
• Identification if Research Gaps and Research Questions
• Preparation of Conceptual Framework or Identification of
Suitable Theoretical Framework
• Setting the Objectives
• Setting the Hypotheses
Operationalization
• Operationalization: It is the phase during which
researchers convert the concepts and sub-concepts into
qualitatively and quantitatively measurable indicators and
variables to achieve their objectives through testing of
hypotheses (if applicable).
Steps in Operationalization
• Converting the Concepts and Sub-concepts into
Measurable Indicators and Variables.
• Preparation of Questionnaire to Collect Data for
Measurable Indicators and Variables
• Analysis and Testing the Hypotheses
• Getting Results

You might also like