Variables in

Quantitative
Research

Arlene A. Pagar, MAEd, RPm

 Learning Objective

▪ At the end of this module, you should

be able to differentiate the kinds of
variables and their uses

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 Quantitative research is concerned about numerical or
measurable values that we can analyzed statistically.

How do we measure those values?

Is it measurable at all times?

Are these values applicable for descriptive,

correlational, quasi-experimental and
experimental research?

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 Construct & Variable
A CONSTRUCT is an attribute or characteristic
expressed in an abstract, general way.
Example: student achievement

A VARIABLE is a characteristic or attribute of an

individual or an organization that (a) can be
measured or observed by the researcher and
that (b) varies among individuals or
organizations studied.
Example: grade point average (GPA)
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 Independent variable (IV)
Classification of Dependent variable (DV)
Variables in terms
of roles in research Extraneous variable
Confounding variable

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 affects
Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
• Researcher’s • Participants’ responses
manipulates depending on the
• Predictor manipulation
variable • Outcome variable

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 Let’s Analyze!
For instance, during the quarantine
period, your mother planted
tomato seedlings in pots. Now
common understanding from
science tells you that several
factors are affecting the growth of
tomatoes: sunlight, water, kind of
soil, and nutrients in soil. How fast
the tomato seedlings will grow and
bear fruits will depend on these
factors.

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 affects
Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
• Researcher’s • Participants’ responses
manipulates depending on the
• Predictor manipulation
variable • Outcome variable

Amount of sunlight,
Growth of tomatoes
water, and nutrients in
Number of fruits
the soil
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 affects
Independent Dependent
Variable Variable

Extraneous Any variable that has

A variable that DOES
variable the POTENTIAL to
have an unwanted effect
influence the DV and
on DV
bias the results
Confounding
variable Pests or extreme weather
If this happens, results become bias as it cannot be
determined whether results are caused by IV or the
confounding variable
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 Classification Variables
of variables in
terms of the Quantitative Qualitative

level of
(Numerical) (Categorical)

measurement Discreet Dichotomous

Continuous
Interval Nominal

Ratio Ordinal

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 1. Quantitative Variables
(Numerical)
a. Discreet variables
▪ are countable whole
numbers; does not take
negative values or values
between fixed points
Ex: number of students in a
class, group size
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▪ these are numeric and can be
measured
b. Continuous variables
▪ take fractional (non-whole
number) values that can either
be a positive or a negative
Ex: height, temperature
 Numerical data has two levels of measurement

b. Ratio variables
 Have values that lie along an
evenly dispersed range of
numbers when there is
absolute zero; possess the
properties of interval variable
but have a clear definition of
zero
 Ex: Age, length, income,
achievement test scores

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 ▪ are not expressed in numbers but
2. Qualitative Variables
(Categorical)
a. Dichotomous variables
▪ are consisting of only two distinct
categories or values
b. Nominal variables
▪ represent categories that cannot be
ordered in any particular way; no
quantitative value
Ex: eye color, business type, religion,
political affiliation
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are descriptions or categories
c. Ordinal variables
▪ represent categories that
can be ordered from
greatest to smallest; but
the spacing between the
values may not be the
same across the levels of
the variables
Ex: education level, income
brackets, rating scale
 THANKS!

Any questions?

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 Let’s Practice!

Give a variable and let your classmates, identify

the kinds of variable. Is it qualitative variable or
quantitative variable? Is it discreet, continuous,
interval or ratio? Is it dichotomous, nominal or
ordinal?

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