VARIABLES

Our Learning Goals:

After this discussion, you are expected to have

the ability to
1. determine the classifications of variables
2.differentiate kinds of variables according to
scales of measure
 A variable varies and has values. The values
of variables under study are the research
data.

How are these different?

Quantitative and qualitative variables
Discrete and continuous variables

Variables
There are two main types of variables in research:

Independent Variable: This is the variable that is

deliberately manipulated or controlled by the
researcher.

Dependent Variable: This is the variable that is

observed, measured, or recorded to assess the impact
of the independent variable.
Definition of Terms
Observation
 Each person/thing we collect data on
 Possesses a variety of characteristics

Participant
 Term used when describing the people from whom we
collect data.

Constant
 If a characteristic of an observation (participant) is the
same for every member of the group
 Definition of Terms
Qualitative Variables
 Do not express differences in amount, only
differences
 Also referred as categorical variables
 Examples: gender, religion or eye color

Quantitative variables
 Exist along a continuum that runs from low to high.
 Also referred to as continuous variables
 Ex. Height, scores on test
 Variable (or Data Item)
• Any factor or property that a researcher
measures, controls, and/or manipulates
• The changing quantity or measure of any factor,
trait, or condition that can exist in differing
amounts or types.
• a logical set of attributes, characteristics,
numbers, or quantities that can be measures or
counted.
 Classification of Variables

A. Numeric Variables
B. Categorical Variables
C. Experimental Variables
D. Non-experimental Variables
E Variables according to the number being studied
Numeric variables are variables with values that describe a
measurable numerical quantity and answer the questions “how
many” or “how much”.

a. Continuous variables or interval variables

 Can assume any value between a certain set of real numbers
 Ex. Temperature, age, height, sales

b. Discrete Variables
 Can only assume any whole number within the limits of the
given variables
 Ex. Total number of faculty members, number of business
locations, population of students
Categorical variables are variables with values that describe a
quality or characteristic of a data unit like “what type” or “what
category”.

a. Ordinal variables
 Can take a value which can be logically ordered or ranked.
 Ex. A, B, C for academic grades; S, M, L for clothing size; agree,
disagree, strongly disagree for measures of attitudes

b. Nominal Variables
 Whose values cannot be organized in a logical sequence
 Ex. Business types, eye colors, kinds of religion, various
languages, types of learners
Categorical variables are variables with values that describe a
quality or characteristic of a data unit like “what type” or “what
category”.

c. Dichotomous variables
 Represent only two categories
 Ex. Gender (male and female), answer (yes or no), veracity
(true or false)

d. Polychotomous Variables
 Have many categories
 Ex. Educational attainment (elementary, high school, college,
graduate and post graduate), level of performance (excellent,
very good, good, satisfactory, or poor) Political affiliation,
Country of origin.
 a. Independent Variables

 Also referred to as manipulated or explanatory

variables
 Usually manipulated in an experiment
 Ex. The length of time spent sleeping
b. Dependent Variables
 Also referred to as response or predictable
variable
 Usually affected by the manipulation of the
independent variables
 Ex. Test score
Experiment c. Extraneous Variables
al Variables
 Also referred to as mediating or intervening
variables
 Examples:
Title of Research: An Experiment on the Methods of Teaching
and language Achievement Among Elementary Pupils

Independent variable : Methods of Teaching

Dependent variable : Language of
Achievement
. Extraneous variable : Ventilation facilities; Physical
ambiance
Title of Research: Use of Gardening Tools and Types of Fertilizer:
Their Effects on the Amount of Harvest

Independent variable : Use of gardening tools, types

Experiment of fertilizers
al Dependent Amount of harvest
Variables
. variable :
Extraneous variable Humidity level; Types of
seeds/plants
a. Predictor Variables
 Changes the other variable/s in a non experimental study

b. Criterion Variables
 Usually influenced by the predictor variables.

Examples:
a. Title of Research: Competencies of Teachers and
Students’ Behavior in Selected Private Schools

Predictor Competencies of
Non- variable :
. Experimental teachers
Variables Criterion Students’ behaviour
. variable :
b. Title of Research: : Conduct of Guidance Counseling Programs and
degree of Absenteeism and Drop-Out rate Among Grade 8
Classes

. Predictor Conduct of guidance counselling

variable : programs
Criterion Degree of absenteeism and drop-out
variable : rate
c. Title of Research: The Types of facilities, administrator’s
Profile, and Parents’ Support Towards School Effectiveness
Among Public Senior High Schools

Types of facilities; Administrator’s

Non- Predictor profile; Parents’ support
Experimental variable :
. Variables
Criterion School effectiveness
variable :
 a. Univariate study
 Only one variable is being studied.
 Does not deal with causes or relationships
 Its major purpose is to describe; it takes data,
summarizes that data and finds patterns in the
data.
b. Bivariate study
 Two variables are being studied.
 Used to find out if there is a relationship
between two different variables.
 Ex. Plotting one variable against another
Variables variable
according to
the number c. Polyvariate /Multivariate study
being studied  More than two variables are being studied.
 1. Title of Research: The Effects of Types of Audio-Visual Materials
to the Problem-Solving Skills in Mathematics

Independent Types of Audio-Visual Materials

variable :
Dependent Problem-Solving Skills in Mathematics
. variable :
Extraneous Ventilation facilities; Physical ambiance
2. Title of Research: variable
Various :Study Habits, and their Effects on the
Level of Performance in Management Subject

Independent Various Study Habits

variable :
Activity 2: Level of Performance in Management
Dependent
Types Subject
of Variables variable :
Extraneous Ventilation facilities; Physical ambiance
variable :
 3. Title of Research: Effect of Types of Soil and Fertilizer on the
Growth of Papaya Tree

Independent Types of Soil and Fertilizer

variable :
Dependent Growth of Papaya Tree
variable :
Extraneous Types of seeds/plants used
4. Title of Research:variable
Types of: feeds and sanity Level: Their Effects
on the Growth of Tilapia in Fishponds

Independent Types of feeds and sanity Level

Activity 2:
Types variable :
Growth of Tilapia in Fishponds
of Dependent
Variables variable :
Extraneous Water quality; variety of tilapia used
variable :
5. Title of Research: Effects of a New Toothpaste (Yummy Tooth) on
Incidence of Caries in First Grade Children

Independent New Toothpaste (Yummy Tooth)

variable :
Dependent Incidence of Caries in First Grade Children
. variable :
Extraneous Amount of toothpaste used
variable :
6. Title of Research: Impact of Smoking Status on Long Term
Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Independent Smoking Status

Activity 2: variable :
Types Long Term Mortality in Patients with
. Dependent
of Acute Myocardial Infarction
variable :
Extraneous
Variables Age and gender
variable :
 7. Title of Research: A Randomized Trial of Breast Cancer Risk
Counseling: the Impact on Self-Reported Mammography Use

Independent Breast Cancer Risk Counseling

variable :
. Dependent Self-Reported Mammography Use
variable :
Extraneous age
variable :

Activity 2:
Types
of
Variables
 1. Title of Research: Relationship of Leadership Styles and Levels of
Satisfaction of Customers of Selected Restaurants

Predictor variable : Leadership Styles

Criterion Levels of Satisfaction of Customers of
variable : Selected Restaurants

2. Title of Research: Profile of Parents and Family Bonding:

Their Influence on Study Habits and Achievement Level

Predictor Profile of Parents and Family

Activity 2: variable : Bonding
Types Criterion variable
Influence on Study Habits and Achievement
of : Level
Variables
 3. Title of Research: Types of Business and Managerial Skills
Towards Profitability Level of Canteens

Predictor variable Types

: of Business and Managerial Skills
Criterion Profitability Level of Canteens
variable :
4. Title of Research: Disciplinary Mechanisms and Behavioral
Changes Among Senior High School Students

Activity 2:
Types Predictor Disciplinary Mechanisms
of variable :
Behavioral Changes Among Senior High
.
Variables Criterion variable
School Students
: