In research, variables are characteristics or properties that can vary or take on different values.
They are
essential components of any study as they are what researchers measure, manipulate, or control to
understand relationships between phenomena. Variables can be classified into different types based on
their nature and role in the study. Here are some common types of variables used in research:
1. Independent Variable (IV):
Definition: The variable that the researcher manipulates or controls. It is presumed to
cause changes in the dependent variable.
Example: In a study examining the effects of caffeine on reaction time, the independent
variable would be the amount of caffeine consumed. Participants might be given
different doses of caffeine (e.g., 0mg, 50mg, 100mg) to assess its impact on reaction
time.
2. Dependent Variable (DV):
Definition: The variable that is measured or observed to determine the effects of the
independent variable.
Example: In the same caffeine study, reaction time would be the dependent variable.
Researchers would measure how quickly participants respond to stimuli (e.g., pressing a
button) after consuming different doses of caffeine.
3. Control Variable:
Definition: Variables held constant to prevent them from influencing the relationship
between the independent and dependent variables.
Example: In the caffeine study, factors such as participants' age, gender, and sleep
quality might be controlled. By keeping these variables constant, researchers can ensure
that any observed effects on reaction time are due to caffeine consumption and not
other factors.
4. Mediating Variable:
Definition: A variable that explains the relationship between the independent and
dependent variables.
Example: Suppose researchers are investigating the relationship between
socioeconomic status (independent variable) and academic achievement (dependent
variable) and find that the quality of home environment mediates this relationship. In
this case, the quality of home environment would be the mediating variable, explaining
how socioeconomic status influences academic achievement.
5. Moderating Variable:
Definition: A variable that affects the strength or direction of the relationship between
the independent and dependent variables.
Example: In a study examining the relationship between stress (independent variable)
and job performance (dependent variable), the presence of social support at work might
moderate this relationship. High levels of social support may buffer the negative effects
of stress on job performance, whereas low levels of social support may exacerbate these
effects.
6. Categorical Variable:
Definition: Variables that represent categories or groups.
Example: Gender is a categorical variable with two categories: male and female. In a
study investigating the relationship between gender and leadership style, gender would
be considered a categorical variable.
7. Continuous Variable:
Definition: Variables that can take on any value within a given range and are typically
quantitative in nature.
Example: Age is a continuous variable. In a study examining the effects of age on
memory performance, participants' ages might range from 18 to 65 years, with each
participant having a specific age value within that range.
8. Discrete Variable:
Definition: Variables that can only take on specific, distinct values and are often counted
rather than measured.
Example: The number of siblings a person has is a discrete variable. Participants might
report having 0, 1, 2, 3, or more siblings, but they cannot have a fraction of a sibling.
9. Extraneous Variable:
Definition: Variables that are not the focus of the study but may affect the dependent
variable, potentially leading to confounding effects if not controlled.
Example: In a study examining the effects of a new teaching method on student
performance, extraneous variables might include classroom environment, teacher
experience, or student motivation. These variables could inadvertently influence the
dependent variable (student performance) if not controlled.
Suppose a researcher is conducting a study to investigate the relationship between
studying habits (independent variable) and exam scores (dependent variable) among
college students. In this study, an extraneous variable could be the level of sleep each
student gets the night before the exam.
Independent Variable (IV): Studying Habits
Dependent Variable (DV): Exam Scores
Extraneous Variable: Level of Sleep
In this scenario, the researcher's primary interest lies in understanding how different
studying habits affect exam scores. However, the amount of sleep each student gets
could also influence their exam scores. Students who get a good night's sleep may
perform better on the exam regardless of their studying habits, while those who are
sleep-deprived may struggle, even if they have good studying habits.
To address this extraneous variable, the researcher could control for the level of sleep
by instructing participants to maintain a consistent sleep schedule leading up to the
exam or by collecting data on participants' sleep patterns and statistically adjusting for
its effects in the analysis. By controlling for extraneous variables, researchers can better
isolate the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable, enhancing
the internal validity of the study.
These examples illustrate how different types of variables are used in research and how they contribute
to understanding relationships between phenomena.
