DEPENDENT DISCRETE

NOMINAL CONTINUOUS

INTERVAL RATIO
INDEPENDENT ORDINAL
LESSON 4: The Nature and Types of
Random Variables
 VARIABLES
a variable is a central concept in research. It
is a measurable characteristic that changes
in value. It may vary from one group to
another group, one person to another or
even with the same person over time.
 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIABLES
1.Continuous Variables - a variable that can take infinite
number on the value that can occur within a population.
(e.g. age, height and temperature, minutes, seconds)
2.Discrete Variables - also known as categorical
variable. Is any variable that has a limited number of
distinct values, and which cannot be divided into
fractions like sex, blood group, and number of children
in the family.
 TYPES OF CONTINUOS
VARIABLES
Interval Variable – is a measurement where the
difference between two values does have
meaning. (e.g. temperature)
Ratio Variable – possesses the properties of
interval variable and has a clear definition of zero,
indication that there is none of that variable. (e.g.
height, weight, and distance )
 TYPES OF DISCRETE VARIABLES
Nominal Variable – is a variable with no quantitative
value. It has two or more categories but does not imply
ordering of cases.(e.g. eye color, business type, and
religion)
Ordinal Variable – is a variable that has two or more
categories which can be ranked (e. g. level of
performance, level of satisfaction and educational
attainment)
ASSIGNMENT:

• Concept note 4: The nature and Kinds of variables

• LONG QUIZ # 1- 30 ITEMS