LESSON 2- RESEARCH VARIABLES the experiment, it Is crucial for the researcher to identify them prior to

conducting the experiment and control them in such a way that they do
In order to get an answer to an inquiry that they are
not threaten the internal validity (i.e. accurate conclusion) of the result.
investigating, researchers will observe and measure the quality or
Controlling the extraneous variable can be done by holding it constant
quantity of the object of the study. It is therefore imperative for the
or distribute its effect across the treatment. When the researcher fails
researcher to identify the variables significant in explaining observed
to control the extraneous variable that it caused considerable effect to
effects or behavior.
the outcome, the extraneous variable becomes a Confounding Variable.
A Variable is anything that has a quantity or quality that varies. For example, if the tomato had been infested by pests (confounding
For instance, during the quarantine period, your mother planted tomato variable) then you cannot conclude that manipulations in sunlight,
seedlings in pots. Now common understanding from science tells you water and soil nutrients (independent variable) are the only
that several factors are affecting the growth of tomatoes: sunlight, contributing factors for the stunted growth and poor yield (dependent
water, kind of soil, and nutrients in soil. How fast the tomato seedlings variable) of the plant or is it the result of both the independent
will grow and bear fruits will depend on these factors. The growth of variables and the confounding variable.
tomatoes and the number of fruits produced are examples of the
The variables can also be classified according to their nature.
Dependent Variables. The amount of sunlight, water, and nutrients in
The diagram below shows the different classifications:
the soil are the Independent Variables. If there is an existing
relationship between the independent and dependent variables, then VARIABLE
the value of the dependent variable varies in response to the
QUANTITATIVE (NUMERICAL) QUALITATIVE (CATEGORICAL)
manipulation done on the independent variable. The independent
variable is also identified as the presumed cause while the dependent DISCREET CONTINUOUS NOMINAL ORDINAL DICHOTOMOUS
variable is the presumed effect. In an experimental quantitative design,
the independent variable is pre-defined and manipulated by the I. Quantitative Variables also called numerical variables are the type of
researcher while the dependent variable is observed and measured. For variables used in quantitative research because they are numeric and
descriptive, correlational and ex post facto quantitative research can be measured. Under this category are discrete and continuous
designs, independent and dependent variables simply do not apply. variables.

It is important to note other factors that may influence the A. Discrete variables are countable whole numbers. It does not take
outcome (dependent variable) which are not manipulated or pre- negative values or values between fixed points. For example: number of
defined by the researcher. These factors are called Extraneous students in a class, group size and frequency.
Variables. In our example above, the presence of pests and B. Continuous variables take fractional (non-whole number) values that
environmental stressors (e.g. pets, extreme weather) are the can either be a positive or a negative. Example: height, temperature.
extraneous variables. Since extraneous variables may affect the result of
Numerical data have two levels of measurement, namely: accordingly (5=highest, 1=lowest) or categorical rating like
strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree.
A. Interval are quantitative variables where the interval or
Other examples or ordinal variable: cancer stage (Stage I, Stage
differences between consecutive values are equal and
II, Stage III), Spotify Top 20 hits, academic honors (with highest,
meaningful but the numbers are arbitrary. For example, the
with high, with honors).
difference between 36 degrees and 37 degrees is the same as
between 100 degrees and 101 degrees. The zero point does not Activity 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE
suggest the absence of a property being measured.
Directions: Read and analyze the following questions. Choose the letter
Temperature at 0 degree Celsius is assigned as the melting point
of the correct answer.
of ice. Other examples of interval data would be year and IQ
score. 1. Which variable is manipulated by the researcher?
B. Ratio type of data is similar to interval, the only difference is
the presence of a true zero value. The zero point in this scale A. Extraneous variable C. Dependent variable
indicates the absence of the quantity being measured. Examples B. Independent variable D. Confounding variable
are age, height, weight and distance.
2. Which of the following is an example of a quantitative variable?
II. Qualitative Variables are also referred to as Categorical Variables
are not expressed in numbers but are descriptions or categories. It A. Plant variety C. Hair color
can be further divided into nominal, ordinal or dichotomous. B. IQ D. Race
C. Dichotomous are consisting of only two distinct categories or 3. Which of the following is an example qualitative variable?
values. For example, a response to a question either be a yes or
no. A. Monthly sales C. gender
D. Nominal variable simply defines groups of subjects. Here you
B. Basketball player number D. IQ
may have more than 2 categories of equivalent magnitude. For
example, a basketball player’s number is used to distinguish him 4. The variable is the presumed effect of the manipulation on the
from other players. It certainly does not follow that player 10 is object/subject of the experiment.
better than player 8. Other examples are blood type, hair color
A. Extraneous variable C. Dependent variable
and mode of transportation.
E. Ordinal variable, from the name itself denotes that a variable is B. Independent variable D. Confounding variable
ranked in a certain order. This variable can have a qualitative or
5. A type of variable that represent categories and can be ordered.
quantitative attribute. For example, a survey questionnaire may
have a numerical rating as choices like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5ranked A. Nominal C. Ordinal
 B. Discrete D. Ratio Activity 2: FILL IN THE BLANKS

6. What type of variable is characterized by evenly dispersed range of 1. The growth of tomatoes and the number of fruits produced are
numbers? examples of the ____________________.
2. _______________is similar to interval.
A. Nominal C. Dichotomous
3. __________________. Here you may have more than 2
B. Interval D. Ratio categories of equivalent magnitude.
4. When the researcher fails to control the ____________that it
7. The variable that have potential effect on the dependent variable that caused considerable effect to the outcome, the extraneous
are not part of the study. variable becomes a Confounding Variable.
A. Extraneous variable C. Dependent variable 5. ____________________ also referred to as Categorical
Variables.
B. Independent variable D. Confounding variable 6. variables can also be classified according to their _________.
8. A variable that is used to name, categorize, or label the attributes 7. Numerical data have two levels of measurement, namely
being measured. _______________ and _________________.
8. ________________ also called numerical variables are the type
A. Nominal C. Ordinal of variables used in quantitative research because they are
numeric and can be measured.
B. Interval D. Ratio
9. It is consist of only two distinct categories or values
9. What type of variable is gender? _____________.
10. ______________ denotes that a variable is ranked in a certain
A. Nominal C. Dichotomous
order.
B. Interval D. Continuous
Activity 3: ARRANGE THE JUMBLED WORDS
10. The height of students before and after taking growth enhancers for
1. RIAEBLSAV 9. CLUIONSCON
2 months is what type of variable?
2. NALIOMN 10. OEOTCMU
A. Nominal C. Dichotomous 3. TUERAN
4. UIINQRY
B. Interval D. Continuous 5. PERIEXEMNT
6. SEEAERCRRH
7. LASHIPREOITN
8. NRATXEEAUS