Kinds of Variables

and their Uses

PREPARED BY: CHRISTIAN PAUL C. GUTIERREZ
Variables and their Uses
In research, especially in a quantitative
research, one important thing you have to
focus on at the start of your study is to
determine the variables involved in your
study, A variable specifically refers to a
characteristic, or attribute of an individual or
an organization that can be measured or
observed and that varies among the people
or organization being studied.
Variables are “changing qualities or
characteristics” of persons or things like age,
gender, intelligence, ideas, achievements,
confidence, and so on that are involved in
your research study. VARIABLES- made up of
the root or base word “vary” which means to
undergo changes or to differ from, variables
have different or varying values in relation to
time and situation.
The Nature of Variables and Data
Quantitative researchers try to count human
behaviors, that is, they attempt to count
multiple variables at the same time. Generally
speaking, variables are classified as one of
four types:

1.Nominal variables represent categories

that cannot be ordered in any particular
way.
2.Ordinal variables represent
categories that can be ordered
from greatest to smallest.
3. interval variables have values
that lie along an evenly dispersed
range of numbers.
4. Ratio variables have values that lie along
an evenly dispersed range of numbers when
there is an absolute zero, as opposed to net
worth, which can have a negative debt-to-
income ratio-level variable. That is, you
cannot have income or some positive
amount of income. Most scores stemming
from response to survey items are ratio-level
values because they typically cannot go
below zero.
Kinds of Variables
1. independent variables - those
that probably cause, influence,
or affect outcomes. They are
invariably called treatment,
manipulated, antecedent or
predictor variables.
 EFFECTIVENESS
OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS AS
PERCEIVED BY K TO 12 STUDENTS OF PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY

 Theindependent variables of the above study are

teaching Mathematics and K to 12 students of
public and private schools because they are
stimuli or cause variables that are manipulated or
operated.
 SURVIVAL
RATE AND WEIGHT OF CATFISH
CULTURED IN BACKYARD FISHPOND USING SHRIMP
MEAL AND BREAD MEAL AS SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS

 Theindependent variables of the foregoing

research problem are catfish, shrimp meal, and
bread meal because they are stimuli variables
that are manipulated or operated.
 2. Dependent variables - those that depend on the
independent variables; they are the outcomes or results
of the influence of the independent variable.

 Illustration1 Effectiveness of teaching Mathematics as

perceived by K to 12 students of public and private
schools in lloilo City.
 the dependent variables are effectiveness and mean
scores because they are the response variables as
effects of the independent variables.
the schematic diagram of independent and dependent variables on the
effectiveness of teaching Mathematics as perceived by K to 12 students of
public and private schools in Iloilo City.
 3.intervening or mediating variables- “stand between”
the independent and dependent variables, and they
“show the effects” of the independent variable on the
dependent variable.

 Intervening variable hinders the independent and

dependent variables, but the effects can either
strengthen or weaken the independent and dependent
variables. For instance, the researcher wishes to
determine how A (independent variable) will affect B
(dependent variable). It is possible that E (intervening
variable) might have an effect on B.
 illustration 1
 Suppose the researcher wishes to conduct a study on the
survival rate of culturing koi in glass aquarium using fish meal
and bread meal as supplemental feeds. The independent
variables are koi, fish meal, and bread meal, and the
dependent variables are survival rate and weight of koi using
fish meal and survival rate and weight of koi using bread
meal. But, it is possible that water, oxygen, electricity, and
temperature might affect the survival rate of koi. As such,
they become intervening variables.
 Figure 1.7 presents the schematic diagram of independent,
intervening, and dependent variables of koi cultured in
aquarium using fish meal and bread meal as supplemental
feeds.
SURVIVAL RATE OF CULTURING KOI IN AQUARIUM USING FISH
MEAL AND BREAD MEAL AS SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS
 Illustration 2
 On the effectiveness of teaching Mathematics as
perceived by K to 12 students of public and
private schools in lloilo City, the dependent
variables are effectiveness and mean scores.
 But, it is possible that the qualities of teachers
(conventional or modern). instructional facilities,
and classroom facilities (air conditioning and
lighting) might affect the effectiveness of teaching
Mathematics. These factors become intervening
variables.
EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS AS PERCEIVED BY K TO
12 STUDENTS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY
 Confounding variables - those that are “not
actually measured or observed in a study”. They
exist but their influence cannot be directly
detected in a study. Researchers comment on the
influence of confounding variables after the study
has been completed, because these variables
may have operated to explain the relationship
between the independent variable and
dependent variable, but they were not or could
not be easily assessed.
Extraneous variables– any
variables other than the
independent and
dependent variable–
which are weaker
influence
4. Control variables - special types of
independent variables that are measured in
a study because they potentially influence
the dependent variable. Researchers use
statistical procedures (eg. analysis of
covariance) to control these variables. They
may be demographic or personal variables
that need to be “controlled” so that the true
influence of the independent variable on the
dependent can be determined.
 5. Moderator Variable
 Moderator variable is a special kind of
independent variable chosen by the researcher to
determine if it changes or modifies the relationship
between the independent and dependent
variables. For instance, if a researcher wishes to
determine the effects of independent variable A
on the dependent variable B, but suspects that a
third factor C changes or modifies the relationship
between A and B, factor C is considered as
moderator variable.