LECTURE NOTES

(Variables in Research)

Variable is any kind of attribute or characteristic that you are trying to measure, manipulate and
control in statistics and research. All studies analyse a variable, which can describe a person, place,
thing or idea. A variable's value can change between groups or over time.

For example:
The variable in an experiment is a person's eye color, its value can change from
brown to blue to green from person to another person.

Variables in research have different kinds, most common of which are:

1. Qualitative and Quantitative Variables
2. Dependent and Independent Variables
3. Intervening and Moderating Variables
4. Extraneous and Confounding Variables
5. Control and Composite Variables

But our focus will be on the first two pairs of kinds of variables. Let’s take it one by one.

1. Qualitative and Quantitative Variables

Qualitative Variables are characteristics or qualities that can be observed and categorized.
Examples:
Hair color, eye color, race, religion, political affiliation, preferences,
perceptions, feelings, beliefs, etc.

Quantitative Variables are numerical measurements or quantities.

Examples:
Height, weight, number of shoots scored in a basketball match, age, length,
time, temperature, exam score, speed, population of students, number of
votes, grades, class attendance, etc.

(Individual Activity)
Activity 1: One or Blue?
Directions: Classify the given variables whether quantitative or qualitative variable. Post the strips
of paper on the board.
1. Winning Score (Quanti - it can be counted)
2. Nationalities of Miss Universe Candidates (Quali - it can be categorized)
3. Gender (Quali - it can be categorized)
4. Class Attendance (Quanti - it can be counted)
5. Well-Being (Quali - it can be observed/felt)
6. Summative Test Results (Quanti - it can be counted)
7. Academic Pressure (Quali - it is observed /felt)
8. Academic Performance (Quanti - it can be measured)
9. Agta Tabangnon (Quali - it’s a classification of race)
10. School Drop-outs (Quanti - it be counted)
(Group Activity)
Activity 2 (For TVL): Joint Force
Directions: Group yourselves into five and think of an answer for what is/are asked in the task card.
1. Give five categories of gender.
2. Give two ways to measure height.
3. Give three ways to measure academic performance.
4. Give three categories of hair color.
5. Give two ways to measure area.
6. Give five categories of religions.
7. Give four ways to measure temperature.
8. Give two beliefs about how the human was formed.

(By-pair Activity)
Activity 3 : Two Heads Are Better than One
Directions: Find a partner from your group in research paper then identify and list the variables
present in your chosen study. Share your answer to the class.
 2. Dependent and Independent Variables

In studies, researchers often try to find out whether an independent variable causes other
variables to change and in what way. When analysing relationships between study objects,
researchers often try to determine what makes the dependent variable change and how.
Independent variables can influence dependent variables, but dependent variables cannot
influence independent variables.

Researchers can further categorize quantitative variables into discrete or continuous types of
variables:
Discrete: Any numerical variables you can realistically count, such as the coins in your
wallet or the money in your savings account.

Continuous: Numerical variables that you could never finish counting, such as time.

Researchers can further categorize qualitative or sometimes called categorical variables into three
types:
Binary: Variables with only two categories, such as male or female, red or blue.

Nominal: Variables you can organize in more than two categories that do not follow a
particular order. Take, for example, housing types: Single-family home, condominium, tiny
home.

Ordinal: Variables you can organize in more than two categories that follow a particular
order. Take, for example, level of satisfaction: Unsatisfied, neutral, satisfied.
Give five categories of gender.

Give two ways to measure height.

Give three ways to measure

academic performance.

Give three categories of hair color.

Give two ways to measure area.

Give five categories of religions.

Give four ways to measure

temperature.

Give two beliefs about how the

human was formed.