EN ETON TIN ISCO ARCH they were selected. The individuals selected form the from which ‘oun {i ‘| ron le and the large group from which they were selected is the sa iD. The purpose of sampling is to secure a representative group oP" | enable the resea cher to gain information about a population, ch will which W? There are various methods that are used to get a sample from a population. These methods are referred to as sampling techniques, and are discussed in Chapter 7 Variable A variable is a measurable characteristic that assumes different values among the subjects. It is therefore a logical way of expressing a particular attribute in a subject. Some variables are attributes that are expressed quantitatively. For example, age is expressed in years, height is expressed in metres, area is expressed in square metres and weight is expressed in kilogrammes. Other variables are expressed in categories. For example, occupation may be expressed as farmer, teacher, nurse, etc. Gender is expressed as male or female; and colour may be expressed as green, yellow, white, etc. There are different classifications of variables. There may be, for example, dependent, independent, intervening, confounding and antecedent variables. A full discussion of these types of variables is given in Chapter 5. Z Conceptual or theoretical definition of variables Conceptual or theoretical definition of a variable is a way of specifying precisely what we mean when we use a particular term to refer to a variable. Researchers cannot: effectively study a variable without first agreeing on a working definition of the variable. For example, the “financial management” within a household is theoretically defined or conceptualized as the process involved in administering income within a family. The variable “age” is conceptualized as the period between the day one was born and the present date. It may be reckoned in years of in years and months. Sometimes researchers find it difficult to agree on a wo . ofa Particular variable. Usually such terms or variables happen 10 ae combination of several other concepts. Take for example the fined iy re conomic status. This variable can only be meaningtiy evel, coon to other measurable concepts such as incom, oh are used [0 a ation, Property owned etc. These are surrogates ding on the tyPe ° niceptualize the variable socio-economic status. Dependins rking definition W