Lesson 4: Different Variables in Quantitative Research and their uses

Variable - Also called a "Data Item". A variable is any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be
counted.

Example: Age, Gender, Income, Expenses, etc.

Quantitative Research involves many types of variables. Here are the four main types:

Independent Variable (IV)

Commonly used in research involving cause and effect relations. This variable(s) is suspected to be the
cause of a causal relationship that causes the effect.

Dependent Variable (DV)

A variable that is influenced or dependent on Independent Variable(s).

Example:

Experiment: Does sunlight exposure affect plant growth?

Independent Variable (IV): Sunlight Exposure

Dependent Variable (DV): Plant Growth

Explanation: Sunlight exposure can be controlled or manipulated. Which has an effect on plant growth.

Confounding Variable (SV)

The confounding Variable is the third variable that affects the two variables (Independent Variable and
Independent Variable).

Example:

The amount of sunlight exposure in plant growth.

Explanation:

The amount of sunlight affects the IV which also affects the outcome of DV.

Extraneous Variable

A variable that affects the DV and not the IV.

Example:

The size of seeds used.

Explanation: The size of the seed affects the DV (effect) since bigger seeds often bear stronger plants.