Variables in Quantitative

Research
Practical Research II
Factors that influence low academic
performance

VARIABLES

Let’s
analyze this
situation
What is a Variable?

Anything that can AFFECT or

An entity that can take on
CHANGE the RESULTS of a
DIFFERENT VALUES
study.

VARIABLE

An aspect of a theory that can Anything that can VARY can

VARY or CHANGE as part of be considered a variable;
the INTERACTION these are needed to
UNDERSTAND DIFFERENCES
 Remember
A variable may take DIFFERENT forms
ANYTHING can
be a variable,
Something that a
researcher is
INTERESTED
GENDER IQ LEVEL
in
AGE

MEDICAL
LIFESTYLE TEMPERATURE
TREATMENT USED
VARIABLE CLASSIFICATIONS
NUMERRIC

CATEGORICAL

EXPERIMENTAL

NON-EXPERIMENTAL
NUMERIC VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

Variables with values that describe a MEASURABLE

NUMERICAL quantity

How many? How much?

QUANTITATIVE DATA

TWO TYPES OF NUMERIC VARIABLES

DISCRETE VARIABLES CONTINUOUS VARIABLE

 DISCRETE VARIABLES VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

are countable whole numbers. It does not take

negative values or values between fixed points.

CLASS ATTENDANCE NO. OF CHILDREN IN THE

FAMILY

NO. OF ESTABLISHMENTS IN AN AREA

CONTINUOUS VARIABLES VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

take fractional (non-whole number) values that can

either be a positive or a negative.

TIME HEIGHT

TEMPERATURE
 Numerical data have two levels of measurement VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

INTERVAL RATIO

where the interval or differences

type of data is similar to interval,
between consecutive values are
the only difference is the presence
equal and meaningful but the
of a true zero value
numbers are arbitrary.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:

the difference between 36

degrees and 37 degrees is the age, height, weight and distance.
same as between 100 degrees
and 101 degrees
CATEGORICAL VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

Variables with values that describe a QUALITY or

CHARACTERISTIC of a data unit.

What type? Which

category?

QUALITATIVE DATA

TWO TYPES OF NUMERIC

VARIABLES

NOMINAL VARIABLES

DICHOTOMOUS
ORDINAL VARIABLES VARIABLES
 ORDINAL VARIABLES VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS
from the name itself denotes that a variable is
ranked in a certain order. This variable can have a
qualitative or quantitative attribute

ACADEMIC RANKING LEVELS OF

SATISFACTION

SPOTIFY TOP 20 HITS

NOMINAL VARIABLES VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS
simply defines groups of subjects. Here you may
have more than 2 categories of equivalent
magnitude.

LEARNING STYLE BLOOD TYPE

JERSEY NUMBERS
 DICHOTOMOUS POLYCHOTOMOUS VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

Variables that
Variables that have
represent only TWO
MANY categories
categories
EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

Variables that determine CAUSAL relationship

INDEPENDENT
VARIABLES
DEPENDENT
VARIABLES

CONTROL VARIABLES

MODERATING
VARIABLES
EXTRANEOUS
VARIABLES
INDEPENDENT CAUSAL VARIABLE
VARIABLE
VARIABLES CLASSIFICATIONS

PRESUMED TO CAUSE CHANGES IN ANOTHER VARIABLE

USUALLY MANIPULATE IN AN EXPERIMENT

DEPENDENT
VARIABLES EFFECT VARIABLE

VARIABLES THAT CHANGE BECAUSE OF ANOTHER VARIABLE

USUALLY AFFECTED BY MANIPULATION OF THE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

VARIABLES THAT ARE MONITORED IN AN EXPERIMENT

 THE EFFECT OF STUDYING IN THE ACADEMIC VARIABLE
PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS CLASSIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC
STUDYING PERFORMANCE

STUDYING AFFECTS
ACADEMIC
INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE DEPENDENT
VARIABLE VARIABLE
 THE EFFECT OF DIET AND EXERCISE ON THE VARIABLE
PHSICAL FITNESS OF INDIVIDUALS CLASSIFICATIONS

DIET & EXERCISE PHYSICAL FITNESS

DIET AND EXERCISE

AFFECTS THE
PHYSICAL FITNESS
OF INDIVIDUALS

INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
VARIABLE VARIABLE
CONTROL VARIABLES
VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

VARIABLES THAT ARE HELD CONSTANT

HELP TO IDENTIFY THE POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES IN THE OUTCOMES

AS A RESULT OF CONTROLLING CERTAIN VARIABLE

DEPENDENT
VARIABLES
VARIABLE THAT DELINEATES HOW A RELATIONSHIP OF
INTEREST CHANGES UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OR
CIRCUMTANSES
MAYBE QUANTITATIVE OR QUALITATIVE IN
NATURE
 THE EFFECT OF DIET AND EXERCISE ON THE VARIABLE
PHSICAL FITNESS OF INDIVIDUALS CLASSIFICATIONS

INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
VARIABLE VARIABLE

ACADEMIC
PLAYING MUSIC PERFORMACE

MODERATOR
CONTROL VARIABLE
VARIABLE

CLASS DURATION GENRE OF MUSIC

CLASSICAL
MUSIC
60 MINUNTES/CLASS

ROCK MUSIC
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES
VARIABLE
CLASSIFICATIONS

VARIABLES THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING DURING

THE CONDUCT OF AN EXPERIMENT
THESE VARIABLES COULD INFLUENCE THE
RESULTS OF THE STUDY

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, MUST BE CONTROLLED BECAUSE

THEY CAN OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE RESULT
 THE EFFECT OF DIET AND EXERCISE ON THE VARIABLE
PHSICAL FITNESS OF INDIVIDUALS CLASSIFICATIONS

INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
VARIABLE VARIABLE
ACADEMIC
PLAYING MUSIC PERFORMACE

EXTRANEOUS
VARIABLES