Types of Variable Used in

Research
Qasim Shah PhD scholar,
University Of Peshawar
Lecturer UOP
Content
Today we will discuss,
1. Data and information.
2. Statistics and biostatistics.
3. Observation and variable.
4. Different types of variables.
5. Descriptive and Inferential statistics
What is data?
 Data are individual pieces of factual information recorded and used
for the purpose of analysis.
 It is the raw information from which results are created.
 Data can be something simple and seemingly

random and useless until it is organized.

 Data vs Information
DATA INFORMATION

 Raw Facts  Data with context

 No context  Processed data

 Just number and text  Value added to the data

Summarized
Organized
Analyzed
Statistics
Statistics is the branch of science that deals with the collection,
summarization, presentation, analysis and interpretation of data and
then draw conclusion about population on the basis of this data set.
 Main Function of Statistics:

1. Collection of data
2. Presentation of data
3. Analysis of data
4. Interpretation of data
Biostatistics
 The branch of statistics that deals with data relating to living
organisms.
 Statistics applied to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of
biological data and especially data relating to human biology,
health, and medicine.
 Observation
In statistics, an observation often means any sort of numerically recording
of information, whether it is a physical measurement such as height or
weight; a classification such as male or female; or an answer to a
question such as yes or no.

For Example

Patients BMI Recording in kg/m2: 18.45, 19.00, 24.50, 30.00, 28.55, 25.00
 Here each observation represents a single data point from a single
patient at a given time
 Variable
A characteristic that varies with an individual or object is called
variable.
For Example;
Age, weight, height, BMI, health status, clinical characteristics,
gender, disease stages, laboratory diagnosis, etc all are variables as
it is different from person to person
Here we will define a variable as a group name for which numerical
recordings of information called observation are obtained across each
individual included in the study to provide a collection of observation
called data.
Classification of variable
(Based on Nature of Data)
Nominal
Qualitative
(Categorical
)
Ordinal

Variable

Discrete
Quantitative
(Numerical)
Continuous
 Qualitative/Categorical Variable
 Qualitative / Categorical variables refer to non-numerical data or
words.
 For example, gender, medication adherence, treatment plan,
disease status, education level, socioeconomic status, etc.
 All these words represent categorical entities.
 We can count the number of patients/individuals in each category.
 Categorical variables can be in the form of ordered data or non-
ordered
 Nominal Variable (Data Ordinal Variable (Data type)
type)
 Data that can be categorized but not  Here the categories have
ordered. meaningful order or ranking.
 The categories must be mutually  Intervals between the categories
exclusive. are not necessarily equal or known.
 Here we use numbers to denote  It allows for the comparison of
various categories but these order but not the magnitude of
numbers don’t have any numerical difference between categories.
importance and used as identifiers or Example:
tags. • Pain Severity (None, Mild,
Example: 1 2 3 Moderate, Severe).
• Stage of Cancer (Stage I, Stage II,
• Gender (Male, Female, Non-binary). Stage III, Stage IV).
• Blood Type (A, B, AB, O). • Patient Satisfaction (Very
• Disease Type (Diabetes, Dissatisfied, Dissatisfied, Neutral,
Hypertension, Asthma) etc. Satisfied, Very Satisfied) etc.
 Commonly used ordinal data Scale in medical
studies

Rating Scale: It is a type of ordinal data scale where respondents evaluate or

rate a specific item, characteristic, or attribute.
• The ratings are usually numeric and can range from simple 1 to 10 scale to
complex, depending on the assessment.
• Data is numeric but it represents ordered categories rather than continuous
values.
Example;
Pain Intensity: Rating pain on a scale from 0 -10.
Satisfaction Level: Rating patient satisfaction with healthcare services from
1-100
 Commonly used ordinal data Scale in medical
studies
Likert scale A type of rating scale use to measure attitudes, opinions, or perceptions.

• Typically consists of a statement followed by a range of responses that indicate

various degrees of agreement or disagreement.

• Usually has an equal number of positive and negative response options around a
neutral point.

• The responses indicate order but not the precise magnitude of difference between
them.

Common Format: (Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree)

Health Perception: "I feel healthier after the treatment." (Responses ranging from
"Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree"
Analysis Implication
1. Nominal Data:

Frequency and graphical representation (simple bar chart, cluster bar chart
and pie chart), chi-square.

2. Ordinal data:

Frequency, mode and graphical representation (simple bar chart, cluster bar
chart and pie chart), chi-square.

3. Rating Scale Data or Likert Scale :

Typically analyzed using non-parametric tests if treated as ordinal data or

parametric tests if treated as interval data/numerical(assuming equal intervals
between responses).
Quantitative Variable
• Quantitative variable refers to the numerical and actual numbers.
• In quantitative variables, there is a fixed and meaningful difference
between various data points.
• For Example; Weights of the babies attending a clinic, number of
patients, the doses of medicine, or the blood pressure of different
patients.
• They can be compared and we can do calculations on the values.

• The difference between a systolic blood pressure value of 110 and

120 mm Hg is the same as between 150 and 160 mm Hg (being 10
mm Hg).
 Continuous Variable (Data
Discrete Variable (Data type) type)

It takes a finite or countable number of distinct It takes an infinite number of values (any value

values typically whole numbers. including fractions and decimals) within a given

 There are clear, separate gaps between range.

 Continuous variables represent measurements
possible values.
and It has no gaps and breaks
 The variable cannot take on any values
Example:
between its discrete points.
 Height: Patients’ height (e.g., 170.5 cm, 175.3
Example:
cm).
 Number of Patients: The number of
 Blood Pressure: Patients’ blood pressure
patients enrolled in a study (e.g., 10, 20, 30).
(e.g., 120.5 mmHg, 130.2 mmHg).
 Number of Symptoms: The number of
 Time: Medication effect time (e.g., 1.5 hr, 2.75
symptoms a patient exhibits (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3). hr).
 Number of Hospital Visits: The number of

times a patient visits the hospital in a year.

 Dependent Variable Independent Variable
It is the outcome, effect, or response It is the factor or condition that is
that is being measured or tested in an manipulated or controlled by the
experiment.
researcher to determine its effect
It is called "dependent" because its
on the dependent variable.
value depends on changes or
It is called "independent" because it
variations in the independent variable
is presumed to cause changes in
Example:
the dependent variable, rather than
Effect of a new drug on blood
pressure, being influenced by it.

Blood Pressure (dependent variable) Example:

Drug used to control BP
Example
Study: Effect of exercise on weight loss.
 Independent Variable: Exercise regimen (e.g., no exercise,
moderate exercise, intense exercise).
 Dependent Variable: Weight loss (measured in pounds or
kilograms).
 Descriptive Vs Inferential
Statistics
Statistics as a subject is divided into two parts
1. Descriptive statistics
2. Inferential statistics
Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics
It deals with the concepts and method It deals with procedure for making inferences
concerned with the summarization and about the characteristics that describe the
description of the important aspects of data large group of data or whole population on the

This area includes basis of information derived from sample data.

1. Summarization/condensation of data This area includes

(frequency table) 1. Estimation of population parameter

2. Graphical representation 2. Testing of hypothesis

3. Computation of a few numerical entities This phase is based on probability

that provide information about the theory, as the inferences based on
center and spread of observation sample evidence cannot be absolutely
true
Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics

1. Simple Frequency Table 1. Hypothesis testing

2. Cross Table 2. Confidence interval

3. Graphical Representation 3. Normality Test

4. Measure of central tendency (mean, 4. Parametric Test (t-test, ANOVA)

median mode) and measure of 5. Non Parametric test

dispersion. 6. Chi-square & Correlation

 Note:
We can use either test based on our
Research Objectives and Type of variable
(Nominal, Ordinal, and Numerical)
 Statistical Methods we discussed in these
sessions
Numerical/continuous
Nominal/Ordinal Data Data
1. Frequency table 1. Measure of central tendency;
2. Cross tabulation Averages (Mean, Median,
3. Graphical representation (bar Mode).
char, cluster bar chart, pie chart) 2. Measure of dispersion
4. Graphical representation (line (standard deviation).
graph 3. Chi square test
5. Median/Mode 4. Data normality test
6. Chi-square 5. Correlation
7. Comparison test for binomial 6. Data comparison test
data (parametric non parametric)
 NOTE
1. We will not discussed numerical formulas of
these statistical method

2. We only discussed how to calculate and

interpret it through SPSS
THANK YOU