Qualitative and

Quantitative Variables
Module 5
 Definition of Variables
Variables - are changing qualities or
characteristics of persons or things. (Suter
2013 in Baraceros 2016, 29). For example, a
person's hairstyle is a potential variable,
which could be "straight" for one person and
"curly" for another.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Variables
Variables can be classified as
qualitative or quantitative.
 Qualitative. Qualitative variables take
on values that are names or labels.
The color of a shirt (e.g., red, green, blue)
or the size of a shirt (e.g., small, medium,
large) would be examples of qualitative or
categorical variables.
 Quantitative. Quantitative variables are
numeric. They represent a measurable
quantity.
For example, when we speak of the
population of a school, we are talking about
the number of people in the school - a
measurable attribute of the school. Therefore,
the population would be a quantitative
variable.
 The classification of variables is very
useful for researchers in deciding which
analytical procedure should be used. It helps
us determine what data to be collected, how
to collect it, and which method of analysis
should be used.
Qualitative Variables
Qualitative variables can be further
classified as nominal or ordinal
variables.
 1. Nominal Variable. A type of variable used
to name, label, or categorize particular
attributes that are being measured without
ordering of the categories.

Some examples of nominal variables include

gender, skin color, blood type, etc.
 2. Ordinal Variable. A type of variable used
to categorize particular attributes with an
order or rank. This can be with a numeric
value or without numeric value.
Examples:
With Numeric Value Without Numeric Value
Level of Satisfaction Level of Satisfaction to
to Service Service
1. Very satisfied  Very satisfied
2. Satisfied  Satisfied
3. Indifferent  Indifferent
4. Dissatisfied  Dissatisfied
5. Very dissatisfied  Very dissatisfied
Quantitative Variables
Quantitative variables can be further
classified as interval or ratio variables
 1. Interval Variable. A type of variable used
to define values measured along a scale, with
each point placed at an equal distance from
one another. Addition and subtraction
operations can be performed on the numerical
values of this variable type.
Examples:
 Temperature: Temperature, when measured in
Celsius or Fahrenheit is considered as an interval
variable because 0 is arbitrary. That is, 0°C and
0°F do not mean no temperature.

 IQ Test: An individual cannot have a zero IQ, so

this satisfies the no zero property of an interval
variable. The level of an individual's IQ will be
determined, depending on which interval the
score falls in.
 Time: Time is a good example of an interval
variable when measured using a 12-hour clock. The
numbers on a wall clock are on an interval scale
since they are equidistant and measurable.
For example, the difference between 1 o’clock
and 2 o’clock is the same as that between 2 o’clock
and 3 o’clock.
 2. Ratio Variable. A numeric variable having
a zero value. Addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division operations can be
performed on the numerical values of this
variable type.
Examples:
 Time spent on the internet daily, height in feet
and inches, and weight in kilograms

 For temperature, when measured in Kelvin, is an

example of ratio variables. The presence of a
zero-point accommodates the measurement in
Kelvin.
 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
OF HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENTS
VARIABLES INVOLVE: HEIGHT (ratio), WEIGHT (ratio)
 THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON THE READING
INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
VARIABLES INVOLVED: GENDER (nominal), READING
INTEREST (ordinal)
 THE EFFECT OF THE HOURS OF SLEEP TO THE
GRADES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF 10-YEAR-OLD
BOYS
VARIABLES INVOLVED: HOURS OF SLEEP (ratio),
GRADES (interval)
 THE IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON IQ
SCORES OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
VARIABLES INVOLVE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
(ordinal), IQ SCORES (interval)
 THE STRESS LEVEL AND ITS EFFECT ON THE
LENGTH OF SLEEPING TIME AT NIGHT OF PREGNANT
WOMEN
VARIABLES INVOLVED: STRESS LEVEL (ordinal), LENGTH
OF TIME SLEEPING AT NIGHT (ratio)