VARIABLES

Meaning
A variable refers to a
characteristic that has two
or more mutually exclusive
values or properties

Types

Independent Variables
- are conditions or characteristics which are
the presumed cause or influence of the
existence or non- existence or change in
certain phenomena.
Considered as
predictors
Dependent Variables
- are conditions or
characteristics which are influenced
by the independent variables
- outcomes, effects or results

Types

Independent Variables
the thing you are testing
also called manipulated
variable

Dependent Variables
the thing you are measuring
also called responding variable

Hypothesis:
If the plant A receives
fertilizer then it will grow
larger than plant B.
Independent Variable :
Fertilizer
Dependent Variable :
Plant Growth

Independent Variables
Categorized in two types:
Treatment variables factors that
the researcher manipulates and to
which he assigns subjects.
Attribute variables are those
characteristics that cannot be
changed by the researcher such as
age, sex and intelligence level.

Another Type
Confounding variables
the effect of which on the
dependent variable is
sometimes confused with the
effect of the independent
variables.

Confounding
Variables
Intervening variables
- which cannot be controlled or
measured directly but may have
an important effect upon the
outcome.
called modifying variables

Hypothesis:
The average annual income of
men is greater than the average
income of women.
Independent Variable :
gender
Dependent Variable :
average annual income

Intervening Variables :

3 possible intervening
variables
Job category
Education
Seniority

Confounding
Variables
Extraneous variables
which are not controlled or
manipulated by the researcher but
may have a significant influence
on the result of a study.
known as exogenous
variables

Confounding
Variables
Note:
In order for extraneous variable
to confound the result of a study,
it must be correlated strongly
enough with both the independent
and the dependent variables that
its influence can be mistaken for
that of the independent variables
- Best and Khan(1989)

Relationship between variables

Variables X and Y are related implies
that they vary together
Change in X accompanied by a
change in Y

Concomitant
variation /
Correlation

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& GOD BLESS