Sorsogon National High School

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET IN PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

(For 9/19/23)

Name of Learner: _________________________________________ Grade Level & Section: __________

TITLE OF THE LESSON: The Nature of Inquiry and Research: The Nature of Variables
I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, learners are able to:
1. Identify dependent and independent variables.
2. Classify levels of measurement of variables
II. PRESENTATION OF THE LESSON:
Variables are measurable characteristics that can vary for different cases. It can also serve as a basis for
collecting, organizing, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data in quantitative research. Variables also allow us to
organize or classify a person, group, or community according to one or more characteristics. Comparing two or more
individuals, groups or communities allows us as well using variables.
For example, we can classify individuals as low income, medium income and high income based on how much
earnings they make in a month. Afterward we can group them into low income group, medium income group and high
income group. This grouping can serve as the basis for studying other characteristics.

KINDS OF VARIABLES
1. Dependent variables (outcome variables) – are variables that change as a result of a phenomenon or
situation. The changes in the dependent variable are what the researcher is trying to measure and test. It i s
also called as an outcome, effect or response variable.
Example: the number of migrants to a host country is a dependent variable of the socio-economic conditions in
a source country. Low income levels in a source country may influence more people to migrate.
2. Independent variables (change variables) - is hypothesized to affect the dependent variable. An independent
variable is what the researcher manipulates to see if it changes the dependent variable. That is why it is
sometimes called manipulated, treatment, antecedent or predictor variables. This is therefore, are what the
researchers are interested in.
Example: The level of affection exhibited by parents is an independent variable which influences the academic
performance of their children.

LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT
Variables have four levels or scales of
measurement. These levels are nominal, ordinal, interval
and ratio. These can be grouped as either categorical
variables or numerical variables. Categorical or
qualitative variables are those that may be classified into
categories or may be placed in rank order. Numerical or
Ratio
quantitative variables have numerical values or
measures. Here is the summary of this taxonomy:

Nominal variables represent categories that cannot be ordered in any particular way. Variables like gender,
religion or favorite movie genre are examples of nominal variables. If you do a survey on favorite movie genre of senior
high school students, the answer would probably be comedy or romantic comedy, drama, suspense, science fiction or
horror. There is no number associated with these variables because they are categories or classifications. Therefore, a
nominal scale means a qualitative characteristic of the variable.
Ordinal scale refers to the order or rank of a measurement. Consider a restaurant manager who wants to survey
their customers on their extent of satisfaction with the quality of service of the restaurant.

The items in the question above are ordered, ranging from “not
satisfied at all” to “very satisfied”. The answers of respondents
using this scale allow for a comparison of their degree of
satisfaction.
To account for the differences between each value in a
scale, interval scales are often used. Interval scales are numerical
scales in which the exact difference between two values that is known. Interval variables are those that do not have a
“true zero” value, since zero does not actually represent none or nothing. An example of this is the temperature scale,
the difference between 70°F and 80 °F is the same as 30 °F and 40°F; but 0 ° does not mean no temperature.
A ratio scale has the properties of nominal, ordinal and interval scales. They are based on affixed starting point
or a “true zero point” (Kumar 1996; Babbie 2010). The value of zero represents none or nothing. Examples of this are
Annual Family Income in thousands of pesos (Php 12, 000, Php 2,750, Php 5, 644); number of students per classroom
(38, 47, 54); Voter turnout in a presidential election (38, 162, 985; 33, 510, 092; 27, 782, 735)
The table below summarizes these characteristics of levels of measurement.

III. LEARNING TASKS

A. LEARNING TASK 1: Study the following cases. Identify the independent and dependent variables for each of
the following research cases by writing your answers on the suggested table below.
Case 1 A researcher wants to find out the effect of walking a dog on the dog’s general well-being.
Case 2 Lucy is an owner of a fashion accessories store. She surveyed her customers on their preferences for
accessories on a headband. She found out that her customers prefer ribbons. Thus, Lucy would stock up on
ribbons because this will determine the number of headbands with ribbons that she can sell.
Case 3 A researcher is studying the impact of the new enrolment procedure on the school personnel and the
student.

B. LEARNING TASK 2: Identify the level of measurement of the variables below by completing the matrix provided
for you.
1. The standardized intelligence test scores (IQ Scores)
2. The extent of agreement or disagreement on items in a self-confidence measuring instrument
3. The percentage of recovered COVID patients
4. The number of COVID cases 5. Favorite TV network
Variable Classification Explanation
1
2
3
4
5

IV. GENERALIZATION. Imagine you were asked to evaluate the implementation of ‘’Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’’
of our governor. Determine which aspects of our governor’s leadership are considered essential in these trying times.
From these develop at least three indicators that might reflect our governor’s performance.

V. EVALUATION
A. Identify the independent and dependent variables in each of the following situations:
1. “Thank you” cards are given to those who attended the wedding.
2. The number of cakes produced by a baker depends on the available amount of flour.
3. The number of books to be covered with plastic is based on the amount of plastic covers.
4. The number of reams of bond papers to be donated by group of parents depends on the amount that will be gathered
5. The amount of PPEs to be distributed by Red Cross to COVID hospital facilities depends on the number of healthcare
workers attending COVID patients

B. Classify the level of measurement involved in the following situations by using the code inside the box below.
1. A movie critic lists the top 50 films of the decade.
2. A DOH representative surveys whether the COVID attending
physicians’ health status is excellent, average or poor.
3. A researcher wants to find out the percentage of SHS graduates who
actively practice their entrepreneurial/business proposal using social
media.
4. A representative of the WHO general secretary asks Heath representatives the degree of difficulty they encounter in
implementing minimum health protocols.
5. A geoscientist from the Philippine atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
determines the daily temperature for the month of August.

VI. REMARKS
In this part, you can tell your teacher what you’ve learned, what confused you, or what part of this topic you found
difficult.
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Prepared by ANDREA F. DETERA, Teacher II

AIREEN R. DURAN, Teacher III

Language Critic: ANNE E. MANCIA, Assistant Principal II

Content Editor: RUEL G. FRAGO, Master Teacher I