Variables
Variables may be defined as attributes of objects, events, things, and
beings that can be measured. In other words, variables are the
characteristics or conditions that the experimenter manipulates, controls,
or observes. Income, education, intelligence, etc., are some of the
commonly used in economics, education and psychology research.
Dependent and independent variables
The classification of variables into dependent and independent is
frequently employed in experimental research. The dependent variable
(DV) is defined as one about which the experimenter makes a prediction.
The independent variable (IV) is defined as one which is manipulated,
measured and selected by the experimenter for the purpose of producing
observable changes in the dependent variable. Underwood calls the IV as
stimulus variable and DV as response variables. The distinction can be
explained with an example.
Suppose the experimenter wants to study the effects of teaching methods
upon the classroom achievement of pupils. For this purpose, the
experimenter may employ three methods of teaching, say, A, B and C and
may teach the same group of pupils by these three methods and
subsequently, the achievement may be measured or predicted. Teaching
methods constitute the example of the IV and the classroom achievement
constitutes the example of the DV.
Mediating and Moderating Variables
The moderator variables are special types of independent variables (also
called the secondary independent variables) which are selected by the
experimenter because he suspects that these variables may alter or
moderate the relationship between the primary (or main) independent
variable and the dependent variable. Thus, the moderate variables may
be defined as those variables which are manipulated or selected by the
experimenter because they are suspected to moderate the relationship of
the independent variable with the dependent variable. For example,
suppose the investigator wants to study the relative effectiveness of the
lecture method and the demonstration method upon classroom
achievement. He may take two groups of students of the same class, one
to be taught by the lecture method and another to be taught by the
demonstration method. But he suspects that the level of intelligence may
be a factor, which can moderate the relationship between the two
methods (main IVs) and the classroom achievement (DV). He may,
therefore, manipulate intelligence by dividing both groups into three
subgroups having high intelligence, average intelligence and low
intelligence. Thus, a total of six subgroups would be formed out of which
the three subgroups would be taught by the lecture method and the
remaining three subgroups would be taught by the demonstration
method. Subsequently, the classroom achievement of these six subgroups
may be compared with each other. In this example, the intelligence is
manipulated by the experimenter because he suspects that this factor
may alter or moderate the relationship between the IVs and the DV. The
mediating variables or the intervening variables are the variables which
theoretically exist and tend to influence the behavioural measure. Such
variables cannot be seen and/or manipulated by the experimenter and
their effect can be inferred from the effects of the independent variables
as well as the moderator variables upon the dependent variables. Often,
such variables are not named in the proposed research, and hence, little
attention is given to them.