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6 views

Variables

Uploaded by

lisamaji26
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VARIABLES NTA 6

OBJECTIVES
1.Understand the different types of variable
2.Define the terms, variable, attribute, validity, reliability
3.Describe different types of variables and scales of
measurement
4.State differences between numerical and categorical variables
5.Describe different types of qualitative and quantitative
variables
6.Appreciate the different ways of Summarizing different data
types
DEFINITIONS
A variable is a characteristic of object or individual that can be observed or measured
in the study.
OR
A variable is a characteristic of a person, object or phenomenon, which can take on
different values
Example;
 Sex : Male, female
 Weight: Kg, G
 Height: Tall, short
 Level of knowledge: High, low

Attribute are qualities of an object or individual that make up a variable


VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Reliability is the degree to which a research instrument or survey produces
consistent results.
This means that someone else using the same method in the same
circumstances should be able to obtain the same findings (your findings are
repeatable).
If used on a similar group of respondents in a similar context, the instrument
should yield similar results.
RELIABILITY CONT…..
Reliability also known as repeatability represents Precision
For example Day 1 you step in a bathroom scale and weigh 50kg and you
come again day 5 and weigh 50kg.
VALIDITY
Validity refers to “the degree to which the instrument measures what it is
supposed to be measuring
The researchers mostly focused on content validity(observational studies),
which refers to the accuracy with which an instrument measures the factors
under study
There are of 2 kinds
 A. External validity when the results from the instrument accurately relates/ predicts some
kind of external variable/association
 B. Internal validity is when the Difference in the dependent variable is actually a result of the
independent variable.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

DEPENDENT VARIABLE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
is that attribute within an individual, object, or event which affects some
outcome.
The independent variable is conceptualized as an input in the study that
may be manipulated by the investigator (such as treatment in the
experimental study) or reflect a naturally occurring risk factor
influences or explains the outcome
Also known as explanatory variable, X variable, Exposure variable
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
Dependent variable is that attribute within an individual or its
environment that represents an outcome of the study.
The dependent variable is sometimes called a response variable
because one can observe its presence, absence, or degree of change
as a function of variation in the independent variable.
variable (research interest or desired output)
Also known as Outcome variable, Y variable, Response variable
DEPENDENT AND
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
Dependent Variable Independent Variable

What you are measuring/what you Factors affecting the change in


want to know outcome
Example; Example;
Dead at 6 months Sex
Blood pressure with new drug Age
Malaria (yes or no) Sleeping under a mosquito net
Number of malarial parasites Smear result
Stunting status (stunted/normal) Height of a child
STATE THE INDEPENDENT AND
DEPENDENT VARIABLE TO EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING TITLE?
PREVALENCES AND FACTORS INFLUENCE THE USE OF MODERN
CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG POSTNATAL WOMEN AT ARUSHA CITY AND
ARUMERU DISTRICT, NORTHEN TANZANIA.
PARTERNAL CAHARATCTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW BIRTH
WEIGHT AMONG SINGLETON BIRTHS IN NORTHERN TANZANIA

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF LONG ACTING


REVERSESIBLE CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE
FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MOSHI, TANZANIA
ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEGDGE AND PRCTICES OF EXCLUSIVE
BREASTFEEDING AMONG POSTNATAL WOMEN ATTENDING RCH CLINIC
AT BUGANDO 2016.
WHAT IS DATA?
Data is individual pieces of actual information recorded and used for
the purpose of analysis

Data is a collection of observations expressed in numerical figures.

Datasets consist of variables reflecting different characteristics of


study units
BASIC TYPES OF DATA
1. NUMERICAL

2. CATEGORICAL
QUANTITATIVE VS QUALITATIVE

Numerical are also called Quantitative

While

Categorical are also called Qualitative


NUMERICAL DATA/
VARIABLE
They occur when the variable takes some numerical value

Divided into Discrete and Continuous

Discrete occur when a variable takes certain whole numerical


value e.g. number of events/attendance

Continuous occur when there is no limitation of the variable value


e.g. weight, height etc.
DISCRETE
Days sick
Number of attendance to a doctor
CONTINOUS
Numerical responses that can take any value on a well-defined scale like
height (cm)
CATEGORICAL DATA/
VARIABLE
Occur when each individual can only belong to one of a number of a
distinct categories of a variable

Present into three different types

1: Binary

2: Nominal

3: Ordinal
BINARY/DICHOTOMOUS
What is it?
When a variable has only
-Two possibilities OR
-Two possible responses

Example:
disease Yes OR No
Dead OR Alive
UNORDERED/NOMINAL
What is it?
> 2 responses with no order to response

Example:
Favourite colour- Purple, Green or Orange
Knee ligament - anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, or collateral
ORDERED/ORDINAL
What is it?
Responses categorised into distinct groups like - smoking status

Examples:
Shoe size – small, medium, large
Smoking- Never-smoke, ex-smoke, current-smoke
SUMMARY OF CATEGORICAL
DATA
EXCERCISE
SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE-
GENDER-
PARASITE BURDEN( LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH)-
WATER SOURCES( WELL, PIPES MAINS OR RIVER)-
DEATH(YES/NO)-
MALARIA TREATED OR NOT-
BIRTH WEIGHT-
SOCIAL CLASS-
EXERCISE
1. SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE- CONTINOUS/ DISCRETE????
2. GENDER- CATEGORICAL (BINARY)
3. PARASITE BURDEN( LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH)- CATEGORICAL( ORDINAL)
4. WATER SOURCES( WELL, PIPES MAINS OR RIVER)- UNORDERED
CATEGORICAL
5. DEATH(YES/NO)- CATEGORICAL (BINARY)
6. MALARIA TREATED OR NOT- BINARY
7. BIRTH WEIGHT- CONTINOUS
8. SOCIAL CLASS- ORDINAL CATEGORICAL
DATA SUMMARIZATION
AND PRESENTATION
HOW TO SUMMARIZE AND PRESENT
DATA
Summarization
1.Measures of central tendencies with their dispersion (Mean, Median
and Mode)
2.Frequencies and Percentages/proportions
Presentation
1.Narration and figures
2.Tables and Graphical presentation (Frequency tables and Charts)

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