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3 Types of Research Variables

The document explains the nature of research variables in quantitative research, defining what a variable is and outlining its types, including independent, dependent, controlled, extraneous, confounding, and moderator variables. It describes the roles of independent and dependent variables in experiments, providing examples of each. Additionally, it highlights the importance of controlled variables and the impact of extraneous and confounding variables on research outcomes.

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27 views12 pages

3 Types of Research Variables

The document explains the nature of research variables in quantitative research, defining what a variable is and outlining its types, including independent, dependent, controlled, extraneous, confounding, and moderator variables. It describes the roles of independent and dependent variables in experiments, providing examples of each. Additionally, it highlights the importance of controlled variables and the impact of extraneous and confounding variables on research outcomes.

Uploaded by

wendyjeanlauron95
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Nature of Variables in Quantitative Research

THE
RESEARCH
VARIABLES
What is a • A variable is a characteristic or

Research feature that varies or changes


within a study.
Variable? • Anything that has a quantity or
quality that varies.
• It may change from group to
group, person to person or within
one person over time.
Research • Independent
Variable • Dependent
• Controlled
Types • Extraneous
• Moderator
• Confounding
Research • The factor that is varied or
manipulated
Variable • The “assumed cause” of a problem
• There can only be one independent
variable in a study

Independent • This is the factor manipulated by the


researcher
Variable • A variable that can stand alone and
(IV) cannot be changed by other
variables.
Independent • If a scientist conducts an experiment to
test the theory that vitamin could
Variable extend a person’s life expectancy, then:
(IV)
The Independent Variable (IV) is the

Example amount of vitamin that is given to the


subjects within the experiment. This is
manipulated by the researcher
conducting the study.
Independent • A researcher wanted to understand the
relationship between a person’s age
Variable and their eating habits. Age is an
(IV) independent variable because this
cannot be changed whatever the
eating habits the subject is displaying.
Example
Dependent • The factor that is measured or

Variable observed; the change that is


brought about or is effected by
(DV) the change in the independent
variable.
• The “assumed effect” of another
variable.
Dependent • Time spent studying causes

Variable change in the test scores. In the


phenomenon, test scores is a
(DV) dependent variable because it
could change depending on
Example different factors the subject spent
on studying.
Controlled • The factor that is kept
Variable constant throughout the study
• Are not measured in a
particular study.
• Must be held constant so they
will not have bias effect on the
other variable
Extraneous • Are factors in the research environment which may
have an effect on the dependent variable but which are

Variable not controlled.


Confounding • It directly affect how the independent variable acts on
the dependent variable.

Variable
Moderator • Commonly denoted as M, is a

Variable third variable that affects the


strength of the relationship
between a dependent and
independent variable.
• In correlation, it is the third
variable that affects the
correlation of the two variables.
• It measures causal relationship
using regression coefficient.

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