Quantitative discrete data is data that are the result of counting.

These data take on only certain numerical values. If you

count the number of phone calls you receive for each day of the week, you might get values such as zero, one, two, or
three.

Quantitative continuous data is all data that are the result of measuring assuming that we can measure accurately.
Measuring angles in radians might result in such numbers as π, π/3, 5π/6, etc. If you and your friends carry backpacks
with books in them to school, the numbers of books in the backpacks would be discrete data and the weights of the
backpacks would be continuous data.

Example 1.7

You go to the supermarket and purchase three cans of soup (19 ounces) tomato bisque, 14.1 ounces lentil, and 19
ounces Italian wedding), two packages of nuts (walnuts and peanuts), four different kinds of vegetable (broccoli,
cauliflower, spinach, and carrots), and two desserts (16 ounces Cherry Garcia ice cream and 32 ounces chocolate chip
cookies). Identify data sets that are quantitative discrete, quantitative continuous, and qualitative.

Solution 1.7: Answers will vary, but one possibility is: • The three cans of soup, two packages of nuts, four kinds of
vegetables and two desserts are quantitative discrete data because you count them. • The weights of the soups (19
ounces, 14.1 ounces, 19 ounces) and weights of desserts are quantitative continuous data because we measure weights
as precisely as possible. • Types of soups, nuts, vegetables and desserts are qualitative data because they are categorical.

A constant variable is one whose value cannot be updated or altered anywhere in your program. A constant does not
change its value over time. A variable, on the other hand, changes its value dependent on the equation. Constants are
usually written in numbers.

Research Variables

Variables refer to observable characteristics of an object or a person that belongs to a group of objects or persons
respectively (Olaitan & Ndomi, 2000). In another perspective, Anikweze (2012) explains variable as a property by which
the members of a group differ from one another. Examples include differences in gender, age, complexion, ethnic group,
locations and religion. There are many types of variables but in academic research, two types of variables are reckoned
with. These are: independent and dependent variables.

Independent Variable: This is a factor that is selected and manipulated by the researcher in order to study how it is
related to, or how it influences the dependent variable. If the independent variable is related to and influences the
dependent variable, it can be used to predict the dependent variable. It is sometimes described as active, stimulus,
input, treatment, predictors or the explanatory variables. Some independent variables are sometimes controlled in order
to eliminate their effects on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is what we are studying, with respect to how it is related to or influenced
by the independent variables or how it can be explained or predicted by the independent variable, it is called target,
respector criterion variables. It refers to a measurable behavior exhibited by the participants in the experiment. The
behaviors vary as the independent variable is manipulated. Thus, any change in the independent variable results in a
corresponding change in the dependent variable. Dependent variable is never manipulated as a part of the study.

Many textbooks use the term predictor variable as a synonym for independent variable (IV). This variable is manipulated
by the researcher, and the manipulation causes an effect on the dependent variable. We recognize that there are often
several independent variables and that they are probably at least somewhat “correlated” and therefore not independent
among themselves. Similarly, the term criterion variable is used synonymously with dependent variable (DV). This
variable is measured, predicted, or otherwise monitored and is expected to be affected by manipulation of an
independent variable.

Nominal scale A scale in which objects or individuals are assigned to categories that have no numerical properties.

Ordinal scale A scale in which objects or individuals are categorized, and the categories form a rank order along a
continuum.

Interval scale A scale in which the units of measurement (intervals) between the numbers on the scale are all equal in
size.

Ratio scale A scale in which, in addition to order and equal units of measurement, an absolute zero indicates an absence
of the variable being measured.