Variables

Dr. Muhammad Asim

 Variables
A variable is a condition or characteristic that can take on different
values or categories. Or
A changing characteristics or condition is called variables.

Constant: A single or category of variable OR An unchanged

quantity is called Constant.
 rties or characteristics of people or
ality or magnitude from person to person
cholson, 1976)
Variable.
VARIABLES

encies

riable must vary (e.g., not be a

on different values, levels, intensities,
 Definitions
ntity that can take on a variety of
(Wrench et al, 2008, p. 104)

yle
erity
es, and levels are the variations in

itical party:
rat, Republican, Independent, etc.
f-esteem
Medium, Low
 Variables
Quantitative Variables:
A variable that varies in degree or amount
Age
IQ
Efficacy of Medicine

Categorical Variables: A variable that varies in kind or type

Hair color
Gender
Relationships among variables

 Differences
 Differences in kind, degree
 Relationships (correlations)
 Positive correlation
 Negative correlation
 No or neutral correlation
 Variables
Independent Variables:
A variable that is presumed to cause a change in another quantity is
called independent variable.
Or
It is that factor which is measured, manipulated or selected by the
experimenter to determine its effects and relationship to an observed
phenomenon. It is also antecedent condition because it is design as
compared to other quantities.

It is usually represented by IV in research

Independent Variable
 the variable that is manipulated either
by the researcher or by nature or
circumstance
 independent variables are also called
“stimulus” “input” or “predictor”
variables
 analogous to the “cause” in a cause-
effect relationship
 A variable which presume to effect on
some other quantities is called variable.
“operationalization” of the independent
variable
 Operationalization:  Operationalizations can
include:
translating an abstract
 variations in stimulus
concept into a tangible, conditions (public schools
observable form in an versus home schooling)
experiment  variations in levels or
degrees (mild vs. moderate
vs. strong fear appeals)
 variations based on
standardized scales or
diagnostic instruments (low
vs. high self esteem scores)
 variations in “intact” or
“self-selected” groups
(smokers vs. non-smokers)
varieties and types of variables

 Discrete variables  Dichotomous variables:

 Nominal variables: distinct,  true/false, female/male,
mutually exclusive categories
democrat/republican
 religions; Christians, Muslims,
Jews, etc.  Ordered variables: mutually
 occupations; truck driver, exclusive categories, but with an
teacher, engineer order, sequence, or hierarchy
 marital status; single, married,
divorced  fall, winter, summer, spring
 Concrete versus abstract variables  K-6, junior high, high school,
 concrete; relatively fixed, college
unchanging
 biological sex
 ethnicity
 abstract; dynamic, transitory
 mood, emotion
 occupation
varieties and types of variables--
continued
 Continuous variables: include constant
increments or gradations, which can be
arithmetically compared and contrasted
 IQ scores
 self-esteem scores
 age

 heart rate, blood pressure

 number of gestures
operationalization

 definition: the specific steps or procedures required to

translate an abstract concept into a concrete, testable
variable
 example: high versus low self-esteem (split-half or top vs.
bottom third?)
 example: on-line versus traditional classroom (how much e-
learning constitutes an “on-line” class?)
examples of operationalizations

 credibility (high versus low)  “powerless” language

 culture/ethnicity (self- style
report)  fear appeals (mild,
 type of speech therapy (in- moderate, strong)
clinic vs. at school, vs. at
 food server touch versus
home)
no touch
 compliance-gaining strategy
preferences (positive versus
negative, self-benefit versus
other benefit)
Dependent Variables: A variable that is presumed to be influenced
changed by another variable is called dependent variable.
Or
The dependent variable is that factor which is observed and
measured to determine the effect of an independent variable.

Sometimes it is also known as outcome variable or response variable.

It is represented by DV in the research

dependent variable (Quantitative
and Qualitative)
 a variable that is observed or
measured, and that is influenced or
changed by the independent variable
 dependent variables are also known as
“response” or “output” or “criterion”
variables
 analogous to the “effect” in a cause-
effect relationship
 Mediating Variables
A mediator variable is the variable that transmits the indirect effects of an
independent variable/ variables on a dependent variable. For example, the
relationship between social support and exercise adherence could be mediated by
motivation: social support leads people to be more motivated which in turn leads
them to adhere to an exercise programme.
It explains the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent
variable.
The process of complete mediation is defined as the complete intervention caused
by the mediator variable

X Y

X I Y
 Mediating Variables
In other words, Mediating variable means that the
mediator variable has been assumed to cause the affect in
the outcome variable and not vice versa.

In the field of psychology, the mediator variable explains

how the external physical events affect the internal
psychological significance.

The mediation caused by the variable cannot be defined

statistically.
On the contrary, statistics can be utilized to assess an
assumed meditational model developed by the mediator
variable.
A mediator variable is one that explains the
relationship between the two other variables.
 Moderator Variable
A variable that changes the relationship between
other variables. The moderator variable is
defined as that factor which is measured,
manipulated, or selected by the experimenter to
discover whether it modifies the relationship of
the independent variable to an observed
phenomenon.
The effect of a moderating variable is
characterized statistically as an interaction; that
is, a categorical (e.g., sex, ethnicity, class) or
quantitative (e.g., level of reward) variable that
affects the direction and/or strength of the
relation between dependent and
independent variables
 Moderator Variable
A moderator is a qualitative (e.g., sex,
race, class) or quantitative (e.g., level of
reward) variable that affects the direction
and/or strength of the relation between an
independent or predictor variable and a
dependent or criterion variable.

A moderator variable is one that influences

the strength of a relationship between two
other variables
 Moderator Variable
In statistics and regression analysis, moderation occurs when the
relationship between two variables depends on a third variable. The
third variable is referred to as the moderator variable or simply
the moderator.
The effect of a moderating variable is characterized statistically as
an interaction; that is, a categorical (e.g., sex, ethnicity, class)
or quantitative (e.g., level of reward) variable that affects the
direction and/or strength of the relation between dependent and
independent variables. Specifically within a correlational analysis
framework, a moderator is a third variable that affects the zero-order
correlation between two other variables, or the value of the slope of
the dependent variable on the independent variable. In analysis of
variance (ANOVA) terms, a basic moderator effect can be represented
as an interaction between a focal independent variable and a factor
that specifies the appropriate conditions for its operation.
confounding variable
 also known as extraneous variables or
intervening variables
 confounding variables “muddy the waters”
 alternate causal factors or contributory
factors which unintentionally influence the
results of an experiment, but aren’t the
subject of the study
How to control confounding variable

 Ignore these variables during your experiment

 Make these variable the part of experiment
 Make their effect constant during an
experiment.