Variables

SN VARIABLES Type of variable Kind of data Relevant Expected Theoretical Sources/Reference

(Measurement statistical sign model s
scale) test
Discrete/ Quantitative/ Interval/ordinal/
Continuo qualitative nominal/ratio
us
I DEPENDENT Operational measurement
VARIABLE

II INDEPENDEN
T VARIABLES
3 Age 1) 30 and below 2) 31-40 3)41-50 Continuou Quantitative Ordinal Informati - IIAM; An Alvarez and
4) 51 and above s on Integrated Nuthall, 2006;
innovatio Model of Rachael, 2008;
Information Thong, 1999; ;
n
Systems (venkatesh et
adoption Adoption in al.,2003); Van
model Small Biljon 2008
Businesses;
(UTAUT)
venkatesh et
al, 2003
4 Gender 1=male, 0=female Qualitative Nominal IIAM; An Alvarez and
Integrated Nuthall, 2006;
Model of Thong, 1999; ;
Information (venkatesh et
Systems al.,2003); Van
Adoption in Biljon 2008
Small
Businesses
;(UTAUT)
venkatesh et
al, 2003
5 Level of Measured in terms of 1=illiterate (no Qualitative Ordinal One Way- Informati + >>; Rogers 2003 in
Education formal schooling), 2=primary school ANOVA on diffusion Martin and abbott
certificate, 3= secondary school innovatio theory 2011
certificate, 4=Bachelors degree or n
equivalent (Tertiary)
adoption
model
6 Income Average annual income in Birr 1) Less Continuou Quantitative Ordinal + diffusion Rogers 2003 in
than 5,000 birr 2) 5,001 – 10,000 birr s theory Martin and abbott
3) 10,001 – 15, 000 birr 4) greater than 2011
15,000 birr
7 HH size Number of members in the Discrete Quantitative Ordinal -
family/household members (1-3, 4-6, 7-
9, 10 and above)
8 Farm size Total land size in hectares 1) Less than Ordinal Informati + Alvarez and
or equal 0.5 ha 2) 0.51 – 1ha 3) 1.01- on Nuthall, 2006;
1.5 ha 4) greater than 1.5ha innovatio
n
adoption
model
9 Type of Type of enterprise engaged 1) Crop Ordinal
enterprise farming 2) Livestock 3) Mixed
10 Market Type of market product produced Ordinal
1)Export, 2) Local, 3)both
12 Distance Distance from the nearest town in Km Continuous Interval - Rachael, 2008

Quantitative variables are possessed in degree. Some common examples of these

types of variables are height, weight and temperature.
Qualitative variables are possessed in kind. Some common examples of these types of
variables are sex, blood group, and nationality.
Interval data
These are data taken from an independent scale with units. Examples include height,
weight and temperature.
Ordinal data
These are data collected from ranking variables on a given scale. For example, you
may ask respondents to rank some variable based on their perceived level of
importance of the variables.
Nominal data
Merely statements of qualitative category of membership. Example include sex (male
or female), race (black or white), nationality (British, American, African, etc.).
Measurement scale, that is either nominal (text, categorical), ordinal (rank
order or
ordered categories), interval (scaled without an absolute zero point), or
ratio (scaled with an absolute zero point). These
scales are often referred to as either discrete (nominal and poorly ordered
scales), or continuous (well ordered, interval, or ratio).