SHS

Practical Research 2
Quarter 1 – Module 3
Variables

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Practical Research 2 – SHS

Quarter 1 – Module 3: Variables

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: JOJIM B. CORDOVA, MT 2, Ligao National HS
Editor: LILLI ANN O. HERMOGENES, EPS Mathematics, SDO-Ligao City
Reviewer: DIOLETA B. BORAIS, EPS Mathematics, SDO-Tabaco City
LOYD H. BOTOR, EPS Mathematics, RO-Bicol

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I. Title of Material/Introduction:
This module discusses the different kinds of variables being utilized in
quantitative research. This also presents their uses. Activities are provided in
order to strengthen the mastery of the topic. You are also encouraged to
submit any outputs to your teacher depending on the agreed manner of
submission.

II. Objectives:
Upon completion of this module, the learners are able to;
• differentiate kinds of variables and their uses

III. Vocabulary List

1. Variable - a measurable characteristic that varies.
2. Dependent Variables- variables that show the effect of manipulating or
introducing the independent variables.
3. Independent Variables- variables that the researcher has control over.

IV. Pre-Test:
Multiple Choice:
Instructions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. The following are the kinds of variables utilized in research EXCEPT for
one.
A. Dependent
B. Independent
C. Absolutely Neutral
D. Nominal and ordinal

2. A study would like to determine if Fertilizer A will boost the growth of

santol tree in Albay. What is the dependent variable?
A. A study
B. Fertilizer A
C. Growth of santol tree
D. Santol tree in Albay province

3. A local soap manufacturer would like to prove that their dishwashing soap
works better in washing away the grease and stain in the dishes. Which is
the independent variable?
A. Soap manufacturer
B. Dish washing soap
C. Grease and stain in the dishes
D. Dishes utilized in the experiment

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 4. A nominal variable which has only two categories or levels.
A. Ratio variable
B. Ordinal variable
C. Interval variable
D. Dichotomous variable

5. A variable which can be measured along a continuum and have a

numerical value.
A. Ratio variable
B. Ordinal variable
C. Interval variable
D. Dichotomous variable

V. Learning Activities:

A VARIABLE is a measurable characteristic that varies. In science, the

things that are changing in an experiment are called variables.
There are six common types of variables. The following are usually
observed in an experiment.
DEPENDENT VARIABLES show the effect of manipulating or introducing
the independent variables. For example, if the independent variable is the use
or non-use of a new language teaching procedure, then the dependent
variable might be students' scores on a test of the content taught using that
procedure. In other words, the variation in the dependent variable depends on
the variation in the independent variable.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES are those that the researcher has control
over. This "control" may involve manipulating existing variables (e.g.,
modifying existing methods of instruction) or introducing new variables (e.g.,
adopting a totally new method for some sections of a class) in the research
setting. Whatever the case may be, the researcher expects that the
independent variable(s) will have some effect on (or relationship with) the
dependent variables.
INTERVENING VARIABLES refer to abstract processes that are not
directly observable but that link the independent and dependent variables. In
language learning and teaching, they are usually inside the subjects' heads,
including various language learning processes which the researcher cannot
observe. For example, if the use of a particular teaching technique is the
independent variable and mastery of the objectives is the dependent variable,
then the language learning processes used by the subjects are the
intervening variables.
MODERATOR VARIABLES affect the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables by modifying the effect of the

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intervening variable(s). Unlike extraneous variables, moderator variables are
measured and taken into consideration. Typical moderator variables in TESL
and language acquisition research (when they are not the major focus of the
study) include the sex, age, culture, or language proficiency of the subjects.
CONTROL VARIABLES. Since it is not possible to consider every
variable in a single study, the variables that are not measured in a particular
study must be held constant, neutralized/balanced, or eliminated, so they will
not have a biasing effect on the other variables. Variables that have been
controlled in this way are called control variables.
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES are those factors in the research
environment which may have an effect on the dependent variable(s) but
which is not controlled. Extraneous variables are dangerous. They may
damage a study's validity, making it impossible to know whether the effects
were caused by the independent and moderator variables or some
extraneous factor. If they cannot be controlled, extraneous variables must at
least be taken into consideration when interpreting results.

Activity 1: Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables

Instructions: Determine the independent (IV) and dependent (DV) variable.
Write it on the space provided.
1. An agronomist would like to determine if adding processed loam soil
would increase crop production.
IV:_________________________________________________________
DV:________________________________________________________
2. During summer, electricity consumption gets high because of higher
temperature.
IV:_________________________________________________________
DV:________________________________________________________
3. A restaurant owner decided to permanently install a wifi since he observed
that it brought increase in the number of customers per day.
IV:_________________________________________________________
DV:________________________________________________________
4. A researcher would like to investigate the number of mosquitoes killed by
a locally made spray.
IV:_________________________________________________________
DV:________________________________________________________
5. JC would like to determine if increasing the number of hours of exercise
will increase his speed in running.
IV:_________________________________________________________
DV:________________________________________________________

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 Data involved in a study are also considered variables since these are the
ones being manipulated. The diagram below illustrates the different types of
data being used as variables in a study.

Data/Variables

Categorical Numerical

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

Dichotomous

There are two types of data or should we say variables. As illustrated in

the figure above, these are categorical and numerical. Categorical variables
are also known as qualitative variables while numerical variables are
oftentimes called continuous variables or quantitative variables. Whatever the
name is, don’t get confused. They may differ in what they are made up of.
Categorical variables are made of words while numerical variables are made
of numbers.
There are two types of categorical variables. These are nominal and
ordinal variables.
A nominal variable is one of the 2 types of categorical variables and is
the simplest among all the measurement variables.
Examples of nominal variables:
a. gender
b. name

The responses to a nominal variable can be divided into two or more

categories. For example, gender is a nominal variable that can take
responses male/female, which are the categories the nominal variable is

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divided into. Gender is considered as dichotomous variable. This variable is
a nominal variable which have only two categories or levels.
A nominal variable is qualitative, which means numbers are used here
only to categorize or identify objects. For example, the number at the back of
a player's jersey is used to identify the position he/she is playing. They can
also take quantitative values. However, these quantitative values do not have
numeric properties. That is, arithmetic operations cannot be performed on
them.
Ordinal variable is characterized as an extension of nominal data; no
standardized interval scale; establishes a relative rank; measures qualitative
traits; the median and mode can be analyzed; and has a rank or order. A very
good example of ordinal variable is described by a Likert scale. A Likert scale
is a psychometric scale used by researchers to prepare questionnaires and
get people's opinions.
The interval variable is a measurement variable that is used to define
values measured along a scale, with each point placed at an equal distance
from one another. It is one of the 2 types of numerical variables and is an
extension of the ordinal variable. Unlike ordinal variables that take values with
no standardized scale, every point in the interval scale is equidistant.
Arithmetic operations can also be performed on the numerical values of the
interval variable.
Examples of interval variables:
a. temperature measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit,
b. time,
c. generation age range.
It takes numeric values and may be classified as a continuous variable
type. The interval variable is an extension of the ordinal variable. In other
words, we could say interval variables are built upon ordinary variables. The
intervals on the scale are equal in an interval variable. The scale is
equidistant. The variables are measured using an interval scale, which not
only shows the order but also shows the exact difference in the value. It has
no zero value.
The ratio variable is an extension of the interval variable and is also the
peak of the measurement variable types. The only difference between the
ratio variable and interval variable is that the ratio variable already has a zero
value. For example, temperature, when measured in Kelvin is an example of
ratio variables. The presence of a zero-point accommodates the
measurement in Kelvin. Due to the absolute point characteristics of a ratio
variable, it doesn’t have a negative number like an interval variable.
Therefore, before measuring any object on a ratio scale, researchers need to
first study if it satisfies all the properties of an interval variable and also the
zero point characteristic.

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 Ratio variable is the peak type of measurement variable in statistical
analysis. It allows for the addition, interaction, multiplication, and division of
variables.

Activity 2: My Sketch
Instructions: Make a diagram showing the different types of variables. It
must contain key words that describe each type. You may use any shapes or
figure for representations.

VI. Post Test:

Multiple Choice:
Instructions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Which of the following DOES NOT belong to the group?
A. Dichotomous
B. Interval
C. Ordinal
D. Nominal
2. A study would like to determine if Fertilizer A will boost the growth of
santol tree in Albay. What is the independent variable?
A. A study
B. Fertilizer A
C. Growth of santol tree
D. Santol tree in Albay province

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 3. A local soap manufacturer would like to prove that their dish washing soap
works better in washing away the grease and stain in the dishes. Which is
the dependent variable?
A. Dishes
B. Manufacturer
C. Grease and stain
D. Dish washing soap
4. A measurement variable that is used to define values measured along a
scale, with each point placed at an equal distance from one another
A. Ratio Variable
B. Ordinal variable
C. Interval variable
D. Dichotomous variable
5. The following are examples of nominal variable EXCEPT for one.
A. Age
B. Name
C. Gender
D. Civil Status

VII. Assignment
For each item below, specify the independent and dependent variables.

1. A study was done to find if different tire treads affect the braking distance of a
car.
IV:___________________________________________________________
DV:___________________________________________________________
2. The time it takes to run a mile depends on the person’s running speed.
IV:___________________________________________________________
DV:___________________________________________________________
3. The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive.
IV:___________________________________________________________
DV:___________________________________________________________
4. The higher the temperature of the air in the oven, the faster a cake will bake.
IV:___________________________________________________________
DV:___________________________________________________________
5. Lemon trees receiving the most water produced the most lemons.
IV:___________________________________________________________
DV:___________________________________________________________

If you have access to the internet, you may

visithttps://pch.district70.org/pdfs/Honors-Biology-Summer-Work-part-
2.pdffor more exercises.

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 Answer Key
Pre-Test:
1. C
2. C
3. B.
4. D.
5. C.

Activity 1: Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables

1. An agronomist would like to determine if adding processed loam soil

would increase crop production.
IV: Amount of loam soil
DV: crop production
2. During summer, electricity consumption gets high because of higher
temperature.
IV: Temperature
DV: electricity consumption
3. A restaurant owner decided to permanently install a wifi since he
observed that it brought increase in the number of customers per day.
IV: presence of wifi
DV: Number of customers per day
4. A researcher would like to investigate the number of mosquitoes killed
by a locally made spray.
IV: Locally made spray
DV: number of mosquitoes killed
5. JC would like to determine if increasing the number of hours of
exercise will increase his speed in running.
IV: Number of hours of exercise
DV: Running speed

Activity 2: My Sketch

Answers may vary.

Post Test:
1. B
2. B.
3. C.
4. C.
5. A

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 Assignment

1. A study was done to find if different tire treads affect the braking distance
of a car.
IV: Tire treads DV: Braking distance
2. The time it takes to run a mile depends on the person’s running speed.
IV: Running speed DV: time per mile
3. The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive.
IV: Amount water DV: height of bean plants
4. The higher the temperature of the air in the oven, the faster a cake will
bake.
IV: Amount of temperature of the air DV: time to bake a cake
5. Lemon trees receiving the most water produced the most lemons.
IV: Amount of water DV: number of lemons produced

References
Violeta L. Jerusalem, et al. Practical Research 2: Exploring Quantitative
Research First edition, Fastbook Educational Supply Inc. Philippines, 2017.
Faltado III, Ruben E., et al. Practical Research 2 (Quantitative Research for
SHS). Lorimar Publishing Inc. Philippines, 2016.
https://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/ResearchMethods/RM_2_14.html
(May 25, 2020).
https://pch.district70.org/pdfs/Honors-Biology-Summer-Work-part-2.pdf (may 25,
2020)
https://www.formpl.us/blog/nominal-ordinal-interval-ratio-variable-example (May
25, 2020)
https://www.weetechsolution.com/blog/strengths-and-weaknesses-of-
quantitative-and-qualitative-research. (May 25, 2020).

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