Data, Variables, and Measurements

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Define data and variables
2. Differentiate between dependent and independent
variable
3. Classify variables according to levels of
measurement.
4. Recognize the importance of data analysis in making
informed decisions.
 Importance of Data Analysis
◼ We form important decisions
based on data.
◼ Example
◼ Do we extend the ECQ? This depends
on the rate of rise in cases and other
factors.
 Importance of Data Analysis
◼ We form important decisions
based on data.
◼ Example
◼ Is the new vaccine more effective than
the existing ones in preventing
hospital ICU visits? A comparative
study can be performed based on
actual data.
 Variable
◼ A variable is a name of the
characteristic that takes on
different values for the
different units in a sample.
◼ Example
◼ retention (yes/no)
◼ temperature (36 degrees Celcius)
◼ mass (52 kilograms)
 Data
◼ Data are the information, facts, or
figures, which can be the subject of
statistical analysis. It refers to the set
of values a variable has.
◼ Example
◼ Suppose we measure the weights (in kg) of the children in a
class of 10 pupils. The variable is weight, and the
measurements we collect are the data:
◼ 31.2 kg, 28.8 kg, 36.5 kg, 27.8 kg, 35.1 kg, 26.8 kg, 31.9 kg,
32.8 kg, 29.9 kg, 32.2 kg.
 Independent Variable
◼ is a variable that "explains" or is
believed to "cause" differences in a
second variable (usually the
dependent variable).
 Dependent Variable
◼ is the outcome variable or "effect"
which is thought to be influenced by
the independent variable.
 Independent Variable versus
Dependent Variable
◼ Independent variable is the “cause”
◼ Dependent variable is the “effect”
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ A medical researcher wishes to study
the relationship between two variables:
a person’s current age and the
expected number of years remaining.
◼ Which is the independent variable,
and which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = age
◼ Dependent variable = current years
remaining
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ A researcher wants to measure the
influence of different quantities of
nutrient intake on the growth of an
infant.
◼ Name the independent variable/s, and
identify the dependent variable.
◼ Independent variable = amount of nutrient
intake
◼ Dependent variable = growth of the infant in
terms of height, weight, or other health
indicators
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ Suppose you want to study the factors
that influence the success of online
learning.
◼ Name some independent variables
and identify the dependent variable
◼ Independent variable = students' attendance,
students' prior knowledge, internet quality/speed,
teacher effectiveness, quality of LMS, etc..
◼ Dependent variable = achievement test scores of
the students
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ A study wants to determine if the new
fertilizer is effective in improving yield?
◼ Which is the independent variable, and
which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = fertilizer
◼ Dependent variable = yield
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ Do tomatoes grow fastest under
fluorescent, incandescent, or natural
light?
◼ Which is the independent variable, and
which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = the type of light the
tomato plant is grown under
◼ Dependent variable = the rate of growth of
the tomato plant
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ What is the effect of diet and regular
soda on blood sugar levels?
◼ Which is the independent variable, and
which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = the type of soda you
drink (diet or regular)
◼ Dependent variable = your blood sugar
levels
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ How well do different plant species
tolerate salt water?
◼ Which is the independent variable, and
which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = the amount of salt
added to the plants’ water
◼ Dependent variable = plant growth
 Example: Dependent vs
Independent Variable
◼ How does phone use before bedtime
affect sleep?
◼ Which is the independent variable, and
which is the dependent variable?
◼ Independent variable = the amount of phone
use before bedtime
◼ Dependent variable = number of hours of
sleep, quality of sleep
 Exercise: Multiple Choice

A researcher is interested in determining if one

could predict the score on a statistics exam from
the amount of time spent studying for the exam. In
this study, the dependent variable is
a. the researcher.
b. the fact that this is a statistics exam.
c. the amount of time spent studying for the exam.
d. the score on the statistics exam.
 Exercise: Multiple Choice

A researcher is interested in determining if one

could predict the score on a statistics exam from
the amount of time spent studying for the exam. In
this study, the dependent variable is
a. the researcher.
b. the fact that this is a statistics exam.
c. the amount of time spent studying for the exam.
d. the score on the statistics exam.
 Exercise: Multiple Choice
A researcher wants to determine if there is a relationship
between the number of hours a person goes without sleep
and the number of mistakes he makes on a simple test. In
this study, which is the dependent variable y and which is the
independent variable x?
a. x = the number of hours a person goes without sleep, y=the number of
mistakes he makes on a simple test
b. more information is needed and so we cannot determine which is
independent variable and which is dependent variable
c. x=the number of mistakes he makes on a simple test, y=the number of
hours a person goes without sleep
d. the variables can be assigned interchangeably depending on which the
researcher wants to focus on
 Exercise: Multiple Choice
A researcher wants to determine if there is a relationship
between the number of hours a person goes without sleep
and the number of mistakes he makes on a simple test. In
this study, which is the dependent variable y and which is the
independent variable x?
a. x = the number of hours a person goes without sleep, y=the number of
mistakes he makes on a simple test
b. more information is needed and so we cannot determine which is
independent variable and which is dependent variable
c. x=the number of mistakes he makes on a simple test, y=the number of
hours a person goes without sleep
d. the variables can be assigned interchangeably depending on which the
researcher wants to focus on
 Exercise: Multiple Choice
Suppose you want to investigate whether high
concentrations of vehicle exhaust impact incidence
of asthma in children. Then what would be your
dependent variable and your independent
variable?
a. vehicle exhaust is the dependent variable while asthma is the
independent variable
b. vehicle exhaust is the independent variable while asthma is the
dependent variable
c. either of the variables can be assigned dependent or independent
d. cannot be determined because more information is needed
 Exercise: Multiple Choice
Suppose you want to investigate whether high
concentrations of vehicle exhaust impact incidence
of asthma in children. Then what would be your
dependent variable and your independent
variable?
a. vehicle exhaust is the dependent variable while asthma is the
independent variable
b. vehicle exhaust is the independent variable while asthma is the
dependent variable
c. either of the variables can be assigned dependent or independent
d. cannot be determined because more information is needed
 Qualitative Variable
◼ A qualitative variable, also called a
categorical variable, is a variable that
isn't numerical. It describes data that
fits into categories.
◼ Example
◼ gender
◼ color
◼ nationality
 Quantitative Variable
◼ A quantitative variable is a numerical
variable whose values result from
counting or measuring
◼ Example
◼ mass
◼ volume
◼ temperature
 Levels of Measurement
◼ Nominal data are qualitative data in
which no ordering or ranking can be
imposed on the data.
◼ Example
◼ gender: male, female, nonbinary etc …
◼ religion: catholic or non-catholic
◼ color: green, blue, red, yellow, etc…
 Levels of Measurement
◼ Ordinal data are qualitative data that
can be ordered or ranked.
◼ Example
◼ rating scale: poor, good, excellent
◼ size: extra small, small, medium, large, extra large
◼ year level: freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior
 Levels of Measurement
◼ Interval data are quantitative data that
can be ranked and the differences
between units of measure do exist;
however, there is no true starting point
or absolute zero.
◼ Example
◼ sea level
◼ temperature
◼ angle measure
◼ time
 Levels of Measurement
◼ Ratio data are quantitative that can be
ranked; the differences and ratios
between units of measure do exist,
and there is a true starting point or
absolute zero.
◼ Example
◼ length
◼ mass
◼ volume
◼ density
 Classify according to level of
measurement
◼ Type N if the variable is nominal, O if
ordinal, I if interval, or R if ratio
◼ place of residence
◼ Answer: N
 Classify according to level of
measurement
◼ Type N if the variable is nominal, O if
ordinal, I if interval, or R if ratio
◼ How satisfied are you with the catering
services? 1-very unsatisfied, 2-
unsatisfied, 3-neutral, 4-satisfied, 5-
very satisfied
◼ Answer: O
 Classify according to level of
measurement
◼ Type N if the variable is nominal, O if
ordinal, I if interval, or R if ratio
◼ NSAT Achievement Scores
◼ Answer: I
 Classify according to level of
measurement
◼ Type N if the variable is nominal, O if
ordinal, I if interval, or R if ratio
◼ Blood pressure measured in
millimeters of mercury
◼ Answer: R
 Classify the variable
◼ 1. Blood type (A, B, AB, O)
◼ 1. Answer: Nominal
◼ 2. Family income
◼ 2. Answer: Ratio
◼ 3. Earthquake Intensity in the Ritcher scale
◼ 3. Answer: Ordinal
◼ 4. final exam scores in your DE subject
◼ 4. Answer: Interval
Identify the level of measurement
◼ The following items appeared in a portion of the
questionnaire to be filled up by an applicant for a job. For
each item, what is the level of measurement used to measure
the variable?
a) Year of Birth: __________
b) Civil status (Encircle number):
◼ 1 – Single 2 – Married 3 – Separated / Divorced 4 –
Widowed
c) Highest educational attainment (Encircle number):
1 – Elementary 2 – High School 3 – College 4 –
Masters 5 – PhD
d) Number of Cars: __________
e) (To be filled up by employer) Ranking of applicant:
__________.
Summary

◼ Dependent variable is the “effect” and

independent variable is the “cause”
◼ Nominal variable is simply categorical
◼ Ordinal variable has ranks
◼ Interval variable has no true zero point
◼ Ratio variable has true zero point
Assignment

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Data, Variables, and Measurements

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