KINDS OF

VARIABLES AND
THEIR USES

MA. CATHERINE T. RATIN

Teacher III
What is variable?
It is any element or entity which
can be measured for quantity or
quality.
You are expected to measure or
figure out the relationship
between your variables.
You may also manipulate or
control these variables, depending
on the kind of research you are
conducting.
TWO GENERAL TYPES OF
VARIABLES

Quantitative
variables
Qualitative
variables
Quantitative variables –
can be measured
numerically. They are
the variables used
primarily in quantitative
research. They can be
classified under two
types: discrete and
continuous.
Discrete variables
can be counted
can be only denoted by
positive whole numbers and
are not described in ranges

Some examples of discrete

variables are frequency of
behavior and group sizes.
Continuous variables
Intervalvariable
Measured in ranges
Can be denoted by non-whole
numbers
Can have positive or negative
values
Can also be expressed as fractions

Example: Temperature
Ratio variables – special type
of continuous variable
Cannot have a negative value
When the value of a ratio
variable is zero, it means that
there is none of that variable

Some examples of ratio

variables are age, height,
weight, distance, and test
scores.
Qualitative variables
Categorical variables

Despite lacking numerical

value, these variables can
still be used in quantitative
research. They involve
assigning values to specific
categories or groups (e.g.,
blood type, color).
 TWO TYPES OF
CATEGORICAL
VARIABLES
Dichotomous
variables
Nominal
variables
 Dichotomous variables
- Have more two distinct
categories or values

- Example: response to
a “yes/no” question.
 Nominal variables
-Have more than two
categories or values
Example of nominal
variables are hair color,
marital status, blood type,
mode of transportation,
source of income, and
citizenship.
 Ordinal variables
- Exhibit the characteristics of
both quantitative and
qualitative types
- Have values that can be
ranked or ordered
- These values can be
numerical like quantitative
variables.
 Ordinal variables
- However, they can also be arranged
into specific non-numerical classes
like qualitative variables.

For instance, frequency is described as

rare, seldom, sometimes, almost
always, or always; values of ratings
are denoted as A+, A, B+, or B.
Variables can also be categorized based on
their purpose or role. These purposes and
roles are especially evident in an
experimental study.

 Dependent variable is
the variable examined
for changes. It is also
considered to be the
presumed effect in
experimental research.
Independent variable is the
variable that is considered
to affect the dependent
variable. It is the presumed
cause in experimental
research. It is the variable
that the researcher
manipulates to see whether
it causes changes on the
dependent variable.
Extraneous variable is any
variable not categorized as
dependent or independent
variable in a study. It is an
undesired variable that can
influence the results of an
experiment. By knowing the
extraneous variables, you will
be able to lessen their
adverse effects on your
study.
A special type of extraneous
variable is the confounding
variable which is a variable
that a researcher fails to
control and threatens the
validity of an experiment’s
procedure. This means that it is
possible that the confounding
variable has a relationship with
the dependent variable and not
the independent variable.
Effects of Microsoft Word on
the Writing Performance of
Students.

Independent variable- use of

Microsoft word
Dependent variable-
student’s writing performance
Extraneous variable- time and
venue of writing
Conducting the test in a non-
air-conditioned room may
negatively affect the students’
writing performance. If this
variable is not controlled, it may
become the main factor behind
the poor writing performance of
the students, and not the use of
Microsoft word. Then, it ceases
to be an extraneous variable,
and becomes a confounding
variable
Directions: Identify the different
variables in the given situation. In
case one type of variable is not
used, write NA. Write your answer
on the blank.

You are given the following data

regarding the effects of a public
relations campaign on the
satisfaction rating of top
government officials of country
XYZ.
 Net Satisfaction
Rating
Before After
President +46% +62%
Vice +32% +41%
President
Senate -12% -2%
President
Supreme +24% +34%
Court
Justice
Quantitative
variable(s):___________
Qualitative
variable(s) :___________
Ordinal variable(s) :___________
Dependent
variable(s) :___________
Independent
variable(s):___________
Extraneous
variable(s) :___________
Thank you!
Independent Variable
It is the factor that is measured,
manipulated or selected by the
experimenter to determine its
relationship to an observed
phenomenon. It is a stimulus
variable or input operates within
a person or within his
environment to effect behavior.
Independent variable may be
called factor and its variation
called levels.
Dependent Variable
It is a response variable or
output. The dependent variable
is the factor that is observed
and measured to determine the
effect of the independent
variable; it is the factor that
appears, disappears, or varies
as the researcher introduces,
removes, or varies the
independent variables.
Moderate Variable
It is the factor that is measured,
manipulated or selected by the
experimenter to discover whether it
modifies the relationship of the
independent variable to an observed
phenomenon. The term moderate
variable describes a special type of an
independent variable, a secondary
independent variable selected to
determine if it affects the relationship
between the study’s primary
independent variable and its
dependent variable.
Control Variable
They are the factors controlled by the
experimenter to cancel out or
neutralize any effect they might
otherwise on the observed
phenomena. A single study cannot
examine all of the variables in a
situation (situational variable) or in a
person (dispositional variable): some
must be neutralized to guarantee that
they will not exert differential or
moderating effects on the relationship
between the independent variables
and dependent variables.
Intervening Variable
This is the factor that
theoretically effects observed
phenomena but cannot be
seen, measured, or
manipulated; its effects must
be inferred from the effects of
the independent and moderate
variable on the observed
phenomena.
Directions: Identify DEPENDENT and
INDEPENDENT variable from a single
sentence or paragraph. Each is
worth 5 points.

Example: Is it true that sun exposure

causes cancer?

In this question, sun exposure is the

independent variable and cancer is
the dependent variable. This is
because the sun exposure is the
cause and cancer is the effect.
Directions: Identify
DEPENDENT and
INDEPENDENT variable from a
single sentence or paragraph.
Each is worth 5 points.

How much will she score in LET

after taking expert help.
Directions: Name the
independent variable (IV) and
the dependent variable (DV)
for each one. Then check your
results with the answers.
1.Study examining if Television
violence increases aggression
in children.
2.Study predicting that alcohol
drinking will decrease people’s
reaction time while driving.
Directions: Name the
independent variable (IV) and the
dependent variable (DV) for each
one. Then check your results with
the answers.
3. Study examining if perspective
taking improves with age.
4. Study predicting that high
school sports build character.
5. How do changes in work space
affect employee reaction.