LESSON 4:

DIFFERENT VARIABLES IN
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH AND
THEIR USES
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 MODULE 1
 GUIDE QUESTIONS

What are the different variables in quantitative

research and their uses?
 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VARIABLES
Types of Variables Characteristics Examples
IN TERMS OF MEASUREMENT
Categorical Variable A variable that is Variable gender is
made up of different made up of two
types of categories of categories, male and
a phenomenon female
Quantitative Variable A variable that varies Variable annual
in degree or amount income varies from 0
of phenomenon to a very high level of
income.
 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VARIABLES
Types of Variables Characteristics Examples
ROLES OF VARIABLES
Independent Variable A variable that is Amount of Studying
presumed to cause (IV)
changes in another Affects Test Grade
variable; causal (DV)
variable
Dependent Variable A variable that Amount of Studying
changes because of (IV)
another variable; the Affects Test Grade
effect or outcome (DV)
variable
 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VARIABLES
Types of Variables Characteristics Examples
ROLES OF VARIABLES
Mediating Variable A variable that comes Amount of studying
in between other leads to input and
variables; helps to organization of
delineate the process knowledge in one’s
through which long-term memory
variables affect one (mediating variable)
another which affects test
grades (DV)
• MODERATOR

• HOURS OF STUDY IQ EXAM RESULTS

 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VARIABLES
Types of Variables Characteristics Examples
ROLES OF VARIABLES
Moderator Variable A variable that Perhaps the
delineates how relationship between
relationship of studying (IV) and test
interest changes grades (DV) changes
under different according to the level
conditions or of use of a drug such
circumstances as Ritalin (moderator
variable)
 VARIABLES AND THEORIES

Theories:
It is a set of systematically interrelated constructs and
propositions intended to explain and predict a
phenomenon or behavior of interest within certain
boundary conditions and assumptions.
 FOUR BUILDING BLOCKS OF THEORY
Four Building Blocks of Theory Description

Constructs > Capture the “what” of theories

(i.e., what concepts are important
for explaining a phenomenon)
Propositions > Capture the “how” (i.e., how are
these concepts related to each
other)
Logic > Represents the “why” (i.e., why are
these concepts related)
Conditions/Assumptions > Examine the “who, when, and
where” (i.e., under what
circumstances will these concepts
and relationships work.)
 CHAPTER TEST

Critical Thinking:
Write a short essay answering these questions:
What is the importance of quantitative research in
people’s daily lives?
 PERFORMANCE TASK

Getting Started: Deciding on a Research Topic

Identify a topic of interest. It may be something that
you have read about, or a friend had told you about. It
may be something you have ben curious of since you
entered senior high school or something that is
relevant o a particular group or society. It may also be
something based on your own life experiences.
 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 1)
Getting Started: Deciding on a Research Topic
Focus the topic of interest: Provide a short description
of it. What is it about the topic that your interested
in? What aspect of the topic would you like to study
and why? Are you deliberately omitting any particular
aspect of the topic from you study? If you are why? Try
to describe the topic of interest in a short but succinct
way by completing the following sentences.
FIELD OF STUDY HISTORY TECHNOLOGY
SUBFIELD STUDY ECONOMIC HISTORY GADGETS
BROAD TOPIC WITHIN SA FOREIGN TRADE HISTORY SMARTPHONES
SUBFIELD
SPECIFIC TOPIC IMPORT AND EXPORT GAME APPLICATIONS
HISTORY

FIELD OF STUDY BULLYING GOVERNMENT

SUBFIELD STUDY BULLYING IN SCHOOLS PHIL GOVT
BROAD TOPIC WITHIN SA BULLYING IN PUBLIC LOCAL GOVT
SUBFIELD SCHOOLS
SPECIFIC TOPIC BULLYING IN SHS CORRUPTION IN LGU

FIELD OF STUDY TELEVISION CAREERS

SUBFIELD STUDY ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PHIL COLLEGE COURSES
BROAD TOPIC WITHIN SA TELENOVELAS PREFERENCE IN
SUBFIELD CHOOSING COLLEGE
COURSE
SPECIFIC TOPIC KOREAN NOVELAS EFFECT OF GENDER
ON CHOOSING A
COURSE
 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 1)
My study is about__________________________________
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 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 1)
In the study, I would like to look into_______________
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 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 2)
Drafting a working title A working or tentative title is
important at this early stage because it can help focus
the direction of your study.You can always change it as
you progress your research.The language or the words
that you will use in your title must reflect the kind of
research that you will undertake, whether its
qualitative or quantitative. Make sure that your
working title captures or reflects what you want to
explain.
 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 2)
My study’s tentative title is:
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 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 2)
Evaluate the research topic. Is the topic researchable
and feasible? Are the data you need available and
accessible? Can the topic sustain your interest? Who
will be the targeted audience of your research?
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 PERFORMANCE TASK (PART 2)
Evaluate the research topic. Who will be the targeted
audience/respondents of your research? And Where
will the study be conducted?
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