Lesson 3 Variables in Quantitative Research Extraneous Variables
Extraneous variables are variables that should be mainly
Variables are anything that can be observed by the
researchers. A variable may be a person, thing, place,
situation, or phenomenon.
Variables can be categorized depending on the level of
measurement and role.
Different Types of Variables
Independent and Dependent Variables
The independent variable, also called causal variable,
is presumed to cause the change towards another variable,
which is known as the dependent variable or the
outcome variable.
The independent variable may influence another variable
to change. In experimental research, independent variables
may also be manipulated to examine the specific effect
they may have toward the dependent variable.
The dependent variables are the variables that are
influenced by the independent variables.
Example:
1. A researcher is determining the effects of self-
motivation on the productivity of employees.
Independent variable: Self-motivation
Dependent variable: Productivity of employees
How do you think self-motivation can have an effect on
employee productivity?
Mediating Variables
Mediating variables are also known as intervening
variables since they intervene between the independent
and dependent variables to show their connection.
Example:
A researcher wants to know the effects of working seven
days a week on the employee’s productivity level.
Independent variable: Seven-day work week
Dependent variable: Productivity level
Mediating variable: Job satisfaction
What do you think makes job satisfaction the mediating
variable?
Moderating Variables
-Moderating variables are variables that have a strong
conditioned effect, which may modify the relationship
between the independent and dependent variables.
Example:
A researcher wants to know the effects of exercising
regularly on one’s weight loss.
Independent variable: Regular exercise
Dependent variable: Weight loss
Moderating variable: Gender
A mediating variable should act as a dependent variable
with respect to the independent variable and may also
cause change to the dependent variable, while a
moderating variable must not be directly affected by the
excluded from the research study as they may interfere
and compromise with the experiment and research results.
Example:
A researcher wants to know the effect of how poor
garbage disposal can have an impact on pollution.
Independent variable: Poor garbage disposal
Dependent variable: Pollution
Extraneous variables: Environmental factors; people
Level of measurement
The measurement level, also called scales of measure,
gives you an idea of the type of data you have.
● Level of measurement can be classified into two:
categorical and continuous measures of
variables.
● A categorical variable is further categorized into
nominal and ordinal levels, while a continuous
variable is categorized into interval and ratio
levels.
● A nominal variable is any variable that
represents different types of data, which may be
divided into groups or categories. There is no
intrinsic order; hence, its frequencies can only be
counted.
The examples are race, ethnicity, and hair color.
● An ordinal variable is any variable that may also
be divided into groups or categories, but it has
intrinsic order or rank. Its frequencies can be both
counted and ranked in which the distance
between categories is not equivalent.
Some examples are year of graduation, brands of bags,
and food preference.
● An interval variable is a variable that has a
numerical value. It can be counted and ranked,
and the differences between the ranked categories
are meaningful. There is no true zero point.
For example, you know that the difference or interval
between 25°C and 35°C is the same between 10°C and
20°C.
● A ratio variable is an interval value, but unlike
the interval variable, it has a true zero. It has
numerical value and meaning which can also be
counted, ranked, and has a meaningful
difference between values. There is a true zero
point, which means that nothing exists for that
variable and that zero simply means none.
For example, A person’s weight can be counted, ranked, or
you can determine the equivalent distance between a
person’s weight
with another.
Variables are
anything that can
be subjects for
observation done by the
researcher.
Variables vary in terms of their role
and level of measurement in the research.
The level of measurement can be classified as
categorical or continuous variable measures.
In terms of the role of variables, there are independent,
dependent, mediating, moderating, and extraneous
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