What is variables ? Types of variables and it's examples

 

 What is Variables ? 

A variable is an observable characteristic of an object or event that can be described according to some well-defined classification or measurement scheme.

Example:- Examples of variables studied in the behavioral or social science research include: gender, income, education, social class, organizational productivity, task orientation, recall memory, recognition memory, and achievement [ Kerlinger & Lee, 2001].

Types of variables:-There are 7 types of variables which are as follows:-

1. Independent Variable:-Variable which are responsible for bringing change in a phenomenon, situation or circumstance.

Definitions:-

• " Independent variable is any variable whose values are in principle, independent of changes in the values of other variables." [ Reber & Reber, A.S.2001, P-784]
• " Independent variable is the presumed cause of the dependent variable, the presumed effect."  [Kerlinger,2002] 
• " Independent variable is the antecedent ; the dependent variable is the consequent." [ Ibid]

Examples of Independent variables:- Teaching method, a medical treatment or training regimen etc . 

2. Dependent variable:-It is dependent upon Independent variable . Changes in Independent variable causes change in the Dependent variables.

When researchers make changes to the independent variable, then they measure any resulting changes to the dependent variable.

Definitions:-

• " Dependent variable is any variable whose values are in principle, the result of changes the values of one or more Independent variable." [ Reber & Reber, 2001, P- 7]
• " Dependent variable refers to the variable about which the experimenter makes prediction on the basis of experiment." [ Postman and Egan, 19]

Example:-A  researcher is interested in studying how the amount of time spent studying influences test scores. In this example, the amount of studying would be the independent variable and the test scores would be the dependent variable. The test scores vary based on the amount of studying prior to the test. The researcher could change the independent variable by instead evaluating how age or gender influence test scores.

3. Qualitative variable:-Qualitative variable is that variable which are not represented in quantity or result, these type of variable can be represented on the basis of kind.

Qualitative variable is also known as " unordered variable".

Definition:-

• " Unordered variables are variables in which differences in the possible values are matters of kind rather than degree." [ Edwards, 1971]

Example:-Sex, caste, community, occupation, faculty, teaching method, method of learning etc.

4. Quantitative variable:-Quantitative variable is that variable which can be measured in quantity. It is also known as ordered variable. Remember that quantitative variable is continuous.

Definition:-

• " Variables for which the possible values represent differences in degree along a single dimension are often referred on quantitative variable." [ Edward, 1971, P-8]
• " Any variable that can be ordered in respect to magnitude, is a quantitative variable." [ D'Amato, 1970]

Example:-Anxiety, Reaction time, intelligence, practice, fatigue, etc are some examples of Q.V. .

5. Attribute variable:-Attribute variable is that variable which can not be manipulated but can be measured. These variable is readymade. It is also known as assigned variable. Remember that A.V. also have relation with inanimate objects.

Definition:-

• " Any variable that cannot be manipulated, is an attribute variable."

Example:-Aptitude, sex, social economic status, educational level etc.

6. Extraneous variable:- When we conduct experiments there are other variables that can affect our results. Extraneous variable are all variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect the results of the experiment. Extraneous variables are also known as confounding variables.

E.V. should be controlled were possible, as they might be important enough to provide alternative explanations for the effects.

D'Amato, 1970 give 2 types of extraneous variable:-

Relevant variable:-The class of variable that have an effect on the dependent variable are called "relevant variables".

Irrelevant variable:-The class that have no discernible effect on the dependent variable are called "irrelevant variable".

7. Active variable:-It is also known as experimental variable.

Definition:-

• " Any variable that is manipulated, is an active variable." [ Kerlinger, 2002, P- 38]

Example:-method, training regimens, and the like which can be altered to gauge there affect on a phenomena.

 

 

 Reference :-

 Book :-  Research methods in psychology sociology and education  [ By Arun kumar singh ]