24/11/2024

Ezeokoye Chukwuedozie Jude

190501003

Arc 417 Research Methods Assignment

What are variables in research? What are their types and how do you make use of them?

WHAT ARE THEY?

A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure in some
way. – University of Southern California

A variable is something that can be measured in a study or experiment. The independent and dependent variable are
vital to the understanding and development of research. – Study.com

A variable represents any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or quantified. The term encompasses
anything that can vary or change, ranging from simple concepts like age and height to more complex ones like
satisfaction levels or economic status. Variables are essential in research as they are the foundational elements that
researchers manipulate, measure, or control to gain insights into relationships, causes, and effects within their studies.
They enable the framing of research questions, the formulation of hypotheses, and the interpretation of results. –
Atlasti.com

A variable is any kind of attribute or characteristic that you are trying to measure, manipulate and control in statistics and
research. Studies often involve analyzing a variable, which can describe a person, place, thing or idea. A variable's value
can change between groups or over time. For example, if the variable in an experiment is a person's eye color, its value
can change from brown to blue to green from person to person. – Indeed.com

In statistical research, a variable is defined as an attribute of an object of study. Choosing which variables to measure is
central to good experimental design. – Scribbr.com

TYPES OF VARIABLES

1. AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE is one that the researcher controls or otherwise manipulates within a study. In
order to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables, a researcher will
purposefully change an independent variable, watching to see if and how the dependent variable changes in
response.
2. A DEPENDENT VARIABLE is one being measured in an experiment, reflecting an outcome. Researchers do not
directly control this variable. Instead, they hope to learn something about the relationship between different
variables by observing how the dependent variable reacts under different circumstances.
Although "dependent variable" is the most commonly used term, they may also be referred to as response
variables, outcome variable, or left-hand-side variable. These alternate names help to further illustrate their
purpose: a dependent variable shows a response to changes in other variables, displaying the outcome.
3. A CONFOUNDING VARIABLE, also known as a "third variable," changes the dependent variable despite not being
the independent variable being studied. This can cause issues within a study. After all, since variation in a
confounding variable causes a response in a dependent variable, that response may be misattributed the
independent variable. In order to ensure that the observed outcome is only due to changes in independent
variables, it is crucial to determine what confounding variables might sway experimental results.
 Identifying the confounding variable(s) and handling them helps to ensure that the relationship being observed
between independent and dependent variables is real, and that the results of a study are valid. Validity refers to
the closeness of results between repeated experiments. If another researcher were to repeat the initial
experiment, they may or may not obtain the same (or similar) results.

A common example is the correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates. Since both go up at the same
time, it might be easy for a researcher to assume that a relationship exists between the two: perhaps eating ice
cream causes crime, or there's some other nefarious connection between the two. However, the real cause is a
confounding variable, temperature. Ice cream sales go up when it is hot outside, and so does crime.

4. CONTINUOUS VARIABLES are quantitative variables that can take an infinite number of values within a given
range. These variables are measured along a continuum and can represent very precise measurements.
Examples of continuous variables include height, weight, temperature, and time. Because they can assume any
value within a range, continuous variables allow for detailed analysis and a high degree of accuracy in research
findings.

The ability to measure continuous variables at very fine scales makes them invaluable for many types of
research, particularly in the natural and social sciences. For instance, in a study examining the effect of
temperature on plant growth, temperature would be considered a continuous variable since it can vary across a
wide spectrum and be measured to several decimal places.
When dealing with continuous variables, researchers often use methods incorporating a particular statistical test
to accommodate a wide range of data points and the potential for infinite divisibility. This includes various forms
of regression analysis, correlation, and other techniques suited for modeling and analyzing nuanced relationships
between variables. The precision of continuous variables enhances the researcher's ability to detect patterns,
trends, and causal relationships within the data, contributing to more robust and detailed conclusions.

5. A DISCRETE VARIABLE is a quantitative variable that represents quantitative data, such as the number of children
in a family or the number of cars in a parking lot. Discrete variables can only take on specific values.
6. A CATEGORICAL variable categorizes subjects or items into groups that do not have a natural numerical order.
Categorical data includes nominal variables, like country of origin, and ordinal variables, such as education level.
7. PREDICTOR VARIABLES: Often used in statistical models, a predictor variable is used to forecast or predict the
outcomes of other variables, not necessarily with a causal implication.
8. OUTCOME VARIABLES: These variables represent the results or outcomes that researchers aim to explain or
predict through their studies. An outcome variable is central to understanding the effects of predictor variables.
9. LATENT VARIABLES: Not directly observable, latent variables are inferred from other, directly measured
variables. Examples include psychological constructs like intelligence or socioeconomic status.
10. COMPOSITE VARIABLES: Created by combining multiple variables, composite variables can measure a concept
more reliably or simplify the analysis. An example would be a composite happiness index derived from several
survey questions.
11. PRECEDING VARIABLES: These variables come before other variables in time or sequence, potentially influencing
subsequent outcomes. A preceding variable is crucial in longitudinal studies to determine causality or sequences
of events.
12. AN EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE is anything that could influence the dependent variable. These unwanted variables
can unintentionally change a study's results or how a researcher interprets those results.

HOW TO MAKE USE OF THEM