CLASSIFYING VARIABLES

AND FORMULATING
RESEARCH TITLE
 Objectives

At the end of the discussion, the students are able to:

1. Distinguish the classifications of variables;

2. Share the relevance of selecting researchable variables;
3. Discuss the guidelines in formulating a research titile; and,
4. Identify significant variables and use them in formulating a research title.
 UNSCRAMBLE THE LETTERS!

Try to rearrange the letters until you get the

exact classification of variables that is being described.

cegatiorlac elpriemaxnte esterunaox

Variables that are manipulated or on
This type of variable describe a the hand, affected by the Variables that already exist while the
quality or characteristic of data unit. manipulation. experiment is going which may also
influence the study’s results.

mecnuir epteirmxenal non avolirteayp

Variables that describe a measurable One variable chnages the other More than two variables are being
numerical quantity. variable in a non-experimental way. investigated in a study.
 Identifying Variables

A variable is what a researcher

measures, controls, and/or manipulates.

It is the changing quantity or measure of any factor, trait, or condition that

can occur in differing amounts or types.

It also pertains to data item, which is described as logical set of attributes,

characteristics, numbers, quantities that can be measured or counted.
 Common examples
heightweight size age length

Grade point average(GPA)

Level of interest (or of any measurable factors)

types/ classifications preferences

Measures of attitudes
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES
CATEGORICAL
This type of variable describe a
quality or characteristic of data unit.
NUMERIC
Variables that describe a measurable
numerical quantity.
EXPERIMENTAL
Variables that are manipulated or on
the hand, affected by the
manipulation.
NON
EXPERIMENTAL
One variable chnages the other
variable in a non-experimental way.
EXTRANEOUS
Variables that already exist while the
experiment is going which may also
influence the study’s results.
POLYVARIATE
More than two variables are being
investigated in a study.
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

C a t e g o r i c a l Va r i a b l e s

These variables describe the quality or characteristic of data unit like “what type” or “which category”.

a. Ordinal variables. These variables can be logically be arranged or ranked.

(e.g. Academic grades– Poor, Average, Excellent; Clothing sizes—S,M,L; measures of attitude—
agree, disagree, strongly disagree)

b. Nominal variables. These variables cannot be organized in a logically.

(e.g. eye colors, kinds of religion, languages, type of learners, business types)
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

C a t e g o r i c a l Va r i a b l e s

c. Dichotomous variables. These variables represent two categories.

(e.g. gender—male or female; yes-no answers; veracity—true or false)

b. Polychotomous variables. These variables may have many categories.

(e.g. educational attainment, level of performance )
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

N u m e r i c Va r i a b l e s

These variables has values that describe measurable numerical quantity and answer the question how many
and how much.

a. Continuous variables. Also called as “interval variables”, these variables may assume any value
between a set of real numbers, such values depend on a scale used.
(e.g. time, age, temperature, height, weight)

b. Discrete variables. These variables can only assume any whole value.
(e.g. registered car numbers, population of students, number of children in a family)
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

E x p e r i m e n t a l Va r i a b l e s

a. Independent variables. These variables are often manipulated in an experiment which is also called
“manipulated” or “explanatory” variable.
(e.g. amount of water; differing level or amount of a mixed solution)

b. Dependent variables. These variables are affected by the manipulation of the independent
variables which is also called “response” or “predicted variable” .
(e.g. growth of a plant)
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

N o n - E x p e r i m e n t a l Va r i a b l e s

a. Predictor variables. These variables changes the other variable/s in a non-experimental study.
(e.g. competencies of teachers, parent’s support, conduct of Prefect of Discipline)

b. Criterion variables. These variables are influenced by the predictor variables.

(e.g. student’s behavior, degree of absenteeism, drop-out rate,)
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

E x t r a n e o u s Va r i a b l e s

These variables are also called “mediating” or “intervening” variables. Such variables exist already during
the conduct of the study which may influence the study’s results. They are also known as “covariate
variables”.

example:
o Research Title: An Experiment on the Methods of Teaching and Language Achievement Among
Elementary Pupils
- independent variable: Method of teaching
- dependent variable: Language achievement
- extraneous variable: Ventilation facilities, physical ambience
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES

Va r i a b l e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n u m b e r b e i n g s t u d i e d

a. Univariate study. Only one variable is being studied.

b. Bivariate study. Two variables are being studied.
c. Polyvariate study. More than two variables are being studied.
 Summary

A research variable is any factor that researchers measure, control, and/

or manipulate in a research study.
It is classified as:
Categorical Experimental
Numeric Non experimental
Extraneous according to number
 Why determine variables for a research?

Since quantitative research scopes on quantifying and

explaining a phenomenon, variables help identify and measure
specific factor or target from such phenomenon. With that, the
research problem is seen easily and will lead to focused research
results and interpretations.
 LET’S TRY!

List other examples of research variables as many as

you could for each classification. Review if they really
belong to the classification then share them with your
classmates!
“Research is to see what everybody else has
seen, and to think what nobody else has
thought.”
—Albert Szent-Gyorgyi