What Is the Meaning of Variables in

Research?

•••

Updated April 13, 2018 By Mariecor Agravante

In scientific research, scientists, technicians and researchers utilize a variety of

methods and variables when conducting their experiments. In simple terms, a
variable represents a measurable attribute that changes or varies across the
experiment whether comparing results between multiple groups, multiple people
or even when using a single person in an experiment conducted over time. In all,
there are six common variable types.
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TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Variables represents the measurable traits that can change over the course of
a scientific experiment. In all there are six basic variable types: dependent,
independent, intervening, moderator, controlled and extraneous variables.

Independent and Dependent Variables

In general, experiments purposefully change one variable, which is the
independent variable. But a variable that changes in direct response to the
independent variable is the dependent variable. Say there’s an experiment to test
whether changing the position of an ice cube affects its ability to melt. The change
in an ice cube's position represents the independent variable. The result of
whether the ice cube melts or not is the dependent variable.

Intervening and Moderator Variables

Intervening variables link the independent and dependent variables, but as
abstract processes, they are not directly observable during the experiment. For
example, if studying the use of a specific teaching technique for its effectiveness,
the technique represents the independent variable, while the completion of the
technique's objectives by the study participants represents the dependent
variable, while the actual processes used internally by the students to learn the
subject matter represents the intervening variables.

By modifying the effect of the intervening variables -- the unseen processes --

moderator variables influence the relationship between the independent and
dependent variables. Researchers measure moderator variables and take them
into consideration during the experiment.

Constant or Controllable Variable

Sometimes certain characteristics of the objects under scrutiny are deliberately
left unchanged. These are known as constant or controlled variables. In the ice
cube experiment, one constant or controllable variable could be the size and shape
of the cube. By keeping the ice cubes' sizes and shapes the same, it's easier to
measure the differences between the cubes as they melt after shifting their
positions, as they all started out as the same size.

Extraneous Variables
A well-designed experiment eliminates as many unmeasured extraneous variables
as possible. This makes it easier to observe the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables. These extraneous variables, also known as
unforeseen factors, can affect the interpretation of experimental results. Lurking
variables, as a subset of extraneous variables represent the unforeseen factors in
the experiment.

Another type of lurking variable includes the confounding variable, which can
render the results of the experiment useless or invalid. Sometimes a confounding
variable could be a variable not previously considered. Not being aware of the
confounding variable’s influence skews the experimental results. For example, say
the surface chosen to conduct the ice-cube experiment was on a salted road, but
the experimenters did not realize the salt was there and sprinkled unevenly,
causing some ice cubes to melt faster. Because the salt affected the experiment's
results, it's both a lurking variable and a confounding variable.
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The Definition of an Uncontrolled Variable

The Definition of an Uncontrolled

Variable

•••

Updated April 24, 2018 By Megan Kelly

In statistics and scientific studies, using variables is an important aspect of

structuring and completing a test or survey. While most people are familiar with
the independent and dependent variables, another type of variable can change the
outcome of the results. That third variable is the uncontrolled variable, also known
as the confounding variable.

Definition
An uncontrolled variable, or mediator variable, is the variable in an experiment
that has the potential to negatively impact the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables. This can cause false correlations, improper
analysis of results and incorrect rejections of a null hypothesis.

Avoidance Methods
You can reduce or eliminate the effects of uncontrolled variables by having a
clearly planned design for the experiment along with consistent checks for
uncontrolled variables. Some methods of reducing uncontrolled variables are
randomizing experiment groups, strict controls on the independent variables and
strictly defining variables into factors that are measurable to get rid of "fuzzy"
factors.

Example
An example of how an uncontrolled variable can alter the results of an experiment
is when a person gets angry, he gets a severe headache. It would be easy to state
that his headaches are a result of his anger until you consider the fact that he
drinks more beverages containing caffeine and sleeps less than six hours a night on
average when he is angry. These confounding variables alter the relationship
between the anger and the headaches, because you don't have a way to determine
which of the three variables cause the pain in his head.

Causation and Correlation

The issue of uncontrolled variables often occurs in relation to problems with
correlation and causation. Because correlation does not necessarily mean
causation, analysis based on findings from uncontrolled variables can create an
incorrect reading of a link between two variables. You must always use human
judgment when analyzing test results to determine whether an uncontrolled
variable caused underlying issues that led to incorrect findings.

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