Variables in Research

What is Variables in Research ?
Types of Variables in Research.

Variables in Research 

A variable is a phenomenon, quality, condition or agent which is being explored; e.g. age, knowledge, IQ, the length of practice or behavior. It is a unit of exploration which can get different values which must be defined. For instance, gender is of two values (male – female); for our purposes, marital statues can be only of two values (single – married), at a different time, however, it can be of four values (divorced, widowed), still at a different place even more (separated).

Variables must be turned into operations – defined operatively – so that they could be measured, found and observed. For instance, the ability to speak a foreign language can be defined as a result of a known test, interest in history as a number of questions asked by a student in a history lesson, the number of books on history read by a student or a membership in a history interest club. Therefore, we do not say “what it is” but how we are going to observe it.

It is advisable to differentiate between two main kinds of variables; it is important also for statistical data assessment. With measurable variables, it is possible to define number, degree of a certain phenomenon or quality. Variables get values within a certain range (between – worse; more – less; sooner – later). Example: knowledge, number of mistakes in spelling, favorability of a subject on a scale, a neurotic child according to Eysenck questionnaire.

Types of Variables in Research

Categorical variables cannot be quantified; they only can be divided into classes, categories. They can be dichotomy variables (sex: female – male; test result: passed – failed) or not (marital status, grade: 1-9, school subject, method, parents’ education).

Independent variable – it is a cause of a change in the other variable.

Dependent variable – it is the one which changes being affected by a different variable. It is dependent on the one which affects it (independent variable). Example: students’ results (they change under the influence of teaching style).