Variable (scientific research)

Any factor that can:

• take on different values is a scientific variable
• influence the outcome of experimental research
• scientific experiments measure quantifiable factors:
– Observable quantities
– Describable characteristics or attributes
 Types of variables

• Descriptive variables are those that which will

be reported on, without relating them to
anything in particular.
• Categorical variables result from a selection
from categories, such as 'agree' and 'disagree'.
Nominal and ordinal variables are categorical.
 Types of variables

1. Discrete or Qualitative Variables.

2. Continuous or Quantitative Variables.
 Types of variables Qualitatives: (discrete)
• Nominal variables di/polichotomic:
– dihotomice (poate lua numai o forma din maxim
doua);
– polichotomice (poate lua o forma din mai multe
alternative)
Gender: 1. Male
2. Female

Marital Status: 1. Unmarried

2. Married
3. Divorcee
4. Widower
 Types of variables Qualitatives:
(discrete)

Qualitatives: (discrete)
• Ordinal variables
• Dummy variables from quantitative variables
• Preference variables
• Multiple response variables
 Types of variables Qualitatives:
(discrete)
• Ordinal variables: are ordered in a meaningful
sequence, intervals between scale points may be
uneven. The numbers are comparable only in
terms of relative magnitude, not actual
magnitude:
1 = Very low or nil
2 = Low
3 = Medium
4 = Great
5 = Very great
 Types of variables Qualitatives:
(discrete)
• Dummy variables from quantitative variables:
A quantitative variable can be transformed into a
categorical variable, called a dummy variable by
recoding the values: quantitative variable Age can
be classified into five intervals, called dummy
variables,wich are: 1, 2,3,4,5

[Up to 25] 1
[25, 40 ] 2
[40, 50] 3
[50, 60] 4
[Above 60] 5
 Types of variables Qualitatives:
(discrete)
• Preference variables: the values are either in a
decreasing or increasing order. Indicate the
importance of the sources of information by using
the code [1] for the most important source and [5]
for the least important source:
1. Literature published in the country
2. Literature published abroad
3. Scientific abstracts
4. Unpublished reports, material, etc.
5. Discussions with colleagues within the research unit
The interval distance is not the equal.
 Types of variables Qualitatives:
(discrete)
• Multiple response variables are those, which can
assume more than one value. The respondents
could score more than one category.
– A survey questionnaire about the use of computers in
research:

Statistical analysis Lab automation

Data base management Modeling and simulation

Scientific calculations Computer aided design (CAD)
Communication and Graphics
networking
Types of variables - Quantitatives
Quantitatives
– Continuous variables are numeric variables that can
take any value, such as weight.
– Discrete variables are numeric variables that come
from a limited set of numbers. They may result from ,
answering questions such as 'how many', 'how often',
etc.
Types of variables – Quantitatives
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/idams/advguide/Chapt1_3.htm

• Interval - scale Variables

• Continuous Ordinal Variables
• Ratio - scale Variables
 Types of variables - Quantitatives
Continuous Ordinal Variables
• The measurements are continuous, but one is not
certain whether they are on a linear scale, the
only trustworthy information being the rank
order of the observations. For example, if a scale
is transformed by an exponential, logarithmic or
any other nonlinear transformation, it loses its
interval - scale property.
• It is expedient to replace the observations by
their ranks.
 Types of variables - Quantitatives
Interval - scale Variables:
• Interval scale data has order and equal intervals. They
are measured on a linear scale, and can take on positive
or negative values. It is assumed that the intervals keep
the same importance throughout the scale. They allow
us to rank order the items that are measured and also
to quantify andcompare the magnitudes of differences
between the m.
The temperature of 40°C is higher than 30°C, and an
increase from 20°C to 40°C is twice as much as the
increase from 30°C to 40°C. Counts are interval scale
measurements, such as counts of publications or
citations, years of education, etc.
 Types of variables - Quantitatives
Ratio - scale Variables
• These are continuous positive measurements on a
nonlinear scale (the growth of bacterial
population - equal time intervals multiply the
population by the same ratio).
• With interval data, one can perform logical
operations, add, and subtract, but can not
multiply or divide. To multiply or divide we have
to use the Kelvin scale- has a true zero point. In
social sciences, the issue of "true zero" rarely
arises, but one should be aware of the statistical
issues involved.
 Types of variables - Quantitatives
Ratio - scale Variables
• There are three different ways to handle the
ratio-scaled variables.
– Simply as interval scale variables. However this
procedure should be avoided as it can distort the
results.
– As continuous ordinal scale.
– By transforming the data (for example, logarithmic
transformation) and then treating the results as
interval scale variables.
 CULEGEREA DATELOR
• Studiile evalueaza rezultate prin observarea unor
modificari/schimbari produse asupra US.
• Aceste schimbari sunt evidentiate de datele
(variabilele) care se modifica la nivelul US din
popuatia de baza.
• Rezultatele se:
Observa/Masoara/Inregistreaza/Analizeaza
• Se trag concluzii
• Imperativa: definirea/urmarirea variabilelor
 Variabile

Evalueaza un fenomen/ schimbare

• O cantitate sau
• O calitate (atribut)
Trebuie sa fie:
Observabile / masurabile
- la membrii populatiei de baza
 Variabile clasificare
1. Calitative
2. Cantitative
A. Discrete
B. Continue
3. Descriptive / Categoriale
 Tipuri de variabile
1. Calitative:
• A. Nominale: permit o clasificare calitativa
apartinand unor categorii ce nu pot fi
ierarhizate, cuantificate. Pot fi:
– dihotomice (poate lua numai o forma din maxim
doua: masculin / feminin);
– polichotomice (poate lua o forma din mai multe
alternative: casatorit/necasatorit/divortat/vaduv)
• B. Ordinale: iau valori care pot fi asezate intr-o
insiruire logica a acestor valori
 Tipuri de variabile
2. Cantitative
• A. Continue pot fi masurate cu acuratete, iau
valori succesive continuu (TA, greutatea).
• B. Discrete - pot lua doar anumite valori fixe.
Intre aceste valori nu exista alte valori
intermediare. (masc./ fem.)
 Tipuri de variabile
3. Dependente - independente
• Variabilele dependente (VD) depind de una sau
mai multe variabile independente (VI)- statistica
poate arata doar corelarea, nu cauzalitatea.
• VI pot fi modificate de cercetator, (in cazul
studiilor experimentale, nu la cele
observationale)
• VI si VD - sunt legate intr-un anumit context, nu
pot fi trecute de la un studiu la altul.
Scale de masurare a variabilelor

• Nominala Fiecare scala are

• Ordinala toate
caracteristicile
• De intervale scalei anterioare
• De rapoarte plus Încă ceva
Scale de masurare a variabilelor

Nominala
• Set de categorii (distincte) care pot
varia doar calitativ (nu cantitativ).
• Nu difera ierarhic.
• Se pot atasa numere acestor categorii.

Ex. Culoarea ochilor

Scale de masurare a variabilelor

Ordinala
Idem nominala + :
• Categoriile sunt ierarhizate logic.
• Nu exista diferente egale intre treptele
ierarhiei categoriilor.

Ex. stadiile cancerului

 Scale de masurare a variabilelor
De intervale
Idem ordinala + :
• Diferentele dintre intervale sunt egale
• Nu exista o valoare de referinta ca “ 0 ”
• Ex.: scala ⁰C ≠ 40-50 ⁰C = ≠ 20-30 ⁰C ,
dar 60 ⁰C ≠ 30 ⁰C x 2
 Scale de masurare a variabilelor
De rapoarte
• Idem intervale + :
• exista o valoare de referinta ca “ 0 ”
• Ex.: scala ⁰K ; “ 0 ”= -273 ⁰C
≠ 40-50 ⁰K = ≠ 20-30 ⁰K ,
iar 60 ⁰K = 30 ⁰K x 2
 Chestionare

• Def: ansamblu de intrebari scrise,

administrate de operatori ce determina
raspunsuri ce sunt inregistrate in scris.
• Instrument de baza in culegerea datelor.
 Chestionare clasificare

In functie de:
• Modul de administrare
• Tipul de informatii cerute
• Tipul de intrebari folosite
Chestionare clasificare

Modul de administrare
(Direct / indirect)
• Prin posta-I
• Telefonice
• Interviu - D
 Chestionare clasificare
Tipul de informatii cerute

• Date • Comportament
• Cunostinte • Acordul informat
• Atitudini / opinii • Informatii despre
rude
 Chestionare clasificare
Tipul de intrebari folosite
Structurate: Cu raspuns:
• Dihotomice:da/nu • inchis-avantaje:
• Alegeri multiple – Tintite
– Uniforme
• Ierarhizate pe scala de
– Usor de administrat
valori:inconfort/durere
– Usor de codificat
• Raspuns numeric: varsta – Timp scurt de analiza
• Deschis- cer timp
!! Vocabularul folosit !!
 Codificarea intrebarilor
Trebuie sa fie:
• Exhaustiva –categoriile sa cuprinda toate
raspunsurile, sa fie codate toate categoriile
• Specifica – categoriile sa se excluda reciproc
• Pot fi folosite intrebari in cascada – se
raspunde la o intrebare care de fapt nu exista
in chestionar ca atare.
 Structura chestionarelor
Intrebarile se clasifica dupa functie:
1. Introductive – de contact
2. De trecere – tampon
3. Filtru
4. Bifurcate
5. De ce?
6. De control
7. De identificare
 Structura chestionarelor- Gallup
• Standard pentru chestionare de opinie:
intrebari Ȋ alternand cu D
• Intrebari filtru- Ȋ - R.M. cunoaste problema?
• Intrebari deschise- atitudunea fata de problema
• Sistem de intrebari ( Ȋ-la problema discutata)
• Intrebari D – motivatia opiniei
• Intrebari Ȋ - intensitatea opiniei
DURATA interviului ≈ ½ h
R.M. = raspuns multiplu
 Validitatea intrebarilor

• Structurala - prin repetare

formulata diferit
• Prin repetare la un mic numar
de repondenti alesi randomizat
` (intrebari referitoare la lucruri
concrete, nu de opinie)
Verificarea validitatii chestionarelor

• Prin anchete – confruntarea cu

date cunoscute
• Controlul incrucisat al intrebarilor
Forma / aspectul chestionarului

• Estetic/discret
• Necesare:
– Pretestarea chestionarului
– Specializarea operatorului
– Repetarea chestionarului
– Verificarea codificarii