What is a Variable?
Any attribute that can experience change or vary over time.
Variable also form the foundation of hypothesis.
There is a positive relationship between hours of sleep (variable 1) and academic performance (variable 2)
Types of variables:
1. Dependent and Independent Variables
Independent variable is the “cause” and the dependent variable is the “effect”
Independent variable is also known as Explanatory or explainer variables and Predictor variables
Dependent variable is also known as Response variables and Outcome variables
2. Control variable
It is not easy to be 100% sure that the independent variable is the actual cause of any given change; there could, for
example, be other variables at play that are changing during the study.
Control variables, also known as constant variables or extraneous variables, are factors in an experiment that researchers
intentionally keep constant or controlled to minimize their potential impact on the outcome. The purpose of controlling
these variables is to isolate the effect of the independent variable (IV) on the dependent variable (DV), ensuring that the
observed changes are due to the IV and not to other external influences.
Examples of control variables include:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Lighting
• Noise levels
• Time of day
3. Moderating Variables
A moderating variable is a third variable that influences the strength or direction of the relationship between an
independent variable (predictor) and a dependent variable (outcome). It does not affect the causal relationship between
the independent and dependent variables, but rather alters the way they interact.
In a study on the relationship between stress and mental health, social support may be a moderating variable. Individuals
with high social support may be less affected by stress, while those with low social support may be more severely
impacted.
4. Mediating Variables
A mediating variable is an intermediate variable that explains the causal relationship between an independent variable
and a dependent variable. It is a variable that is affected by the independent variable and, in turn, affects the dependent
variable. In other words, the mediating variable is the “middleman” that transmits the effect of the independent variable
to the dependent variable.
• Mediators explain the causal process, while moderators contextualize the effect
• Mediators are part of the causal pathway, while moderators are external variables that influence the
relationship
• Removing a mediator variable eliminates the causal link, whereas removing a moderator variable only changes
the strength or direction of the relationship
In summary, mediators are variables that explain the “how” and “why” of a relationship, while moderators are
variables that explain the “when” and “under what conditions” the relationship holds.