Research Variables

What are research variables?

1. A variable is a central idea in quantitative research. It is an
object, event, idea, feeling, time, period, or any other type of
category which can be measured (Kalof, Dan & Dietx, 2008).
2. Variables are measurable attributes or characteristics that
can vary for different cases. These attributes should be able
to take on at least two distinct values or have at least two
distinct categories. They serve as the basis for collecting,
organizing, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
3. 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. 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.
4. Attributes are the possible observations of the data to be
processed. These are the sub-values of variables.

Examples:

Gender (Variable) has male and female (attributes)

Length of Study Period- 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.

Types of Movies – Romance, Horror, Comedy, Fantasy, and

Animated

Characteristics of Variable
1. They have a prescribed period/duration when they start and
stop.
2. They may have a pattern such as daily, weekly, and monthly.
3. They are detailed though the summary is profound and
thorough.
4. They may be dormancy which is the time gap between
measuring dependent and independent variables.
  

(Refer to page 38 of your book for the different types of variables)

Sample Cases Showing Independent and
Dependent Variables
Case 1:

            A student is interested in determining the effects of

exposure to different colored lights (e.g. yellow, green, and
red) on the growth of plants.

Independent Variable: Exposure to Different lights

Dependent Variable: Growth of Plants

Attributes /Levels: Exposure to Yellow Light; Exposure to Green

Light; Exposure to Red Light; No Exposure at All (Control)

Case 2:

            A veterinarian wants to find out if a diet supplemented

with blueberry, strawberry, or spinach powder has an effect
on the aging on rats.

Independent Variable: Kinds of Diet

Dependent Variable: Aging of Rats

Attributes /Levels: Diet Supplemented with Blueberry; Diet

Supplemented with Strawberry; Diet Supplemented with Spinach
Powder; Regular Diet (Control)