RESEARCH VARIABLES | TYPES OF RESEARCH

VARIABLES

Student preparation Rahab Jasim

Supervised by M. M. Ali Abdel Mohsen

In research, variables are characteristics or properties that can take on different values and are
measured or manipulated in order to answer research questions. A research variable can be any
measurable factor that can be observed or manipulated, such as age, gender, height, weight, IQ,
attitude, behavior, and so on. In the rest of this article, we will discuss different types of
research variables.

DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH VARIABLES:

:Here are some definitions of research variables from different sources and perspectives
A variable is any characteristic or attribute that can vary or take on different values across “
individuals, groups, or situations. In research, variables are typically defined in terms of their
operational definitions, or how they will be measured or manipulated in the study.” (Maxwell,
2013)
A research variable is a measurable factor or characteristic that can take on different values or “
levels. Variables are used in research to test hypotheses, identify relationships between
variables, and make predictions about outcomes.” (Babbie, 2017)
In research, variables are the building blocks of empirical investigations. They are the “
observable, measurable, and controllable aspects of phenomena that researchers manipulate,
observe, or measure to test hypotheses and answer research questions.” (Creswell, 2014)

“A variable is a characteristic or property that can vary or change from one individual, group,
or situation to another. In research, variables are typically classified as independent, dependent,
or control variables, depending on their relationship to the research question.” (Polit & Beck,
2017)
“A research variable is an attribute or characteristic that can be measured or manipulated in a
study. Variables can be either quantitative, such as age or weight, or qualitative, such as
attitudes or beliefs. By identifying and measuring variables, researchers can investigate causal
relationships and make predictions about behavior.” (Trochim & Donnelly, 2008)

From the above definitions, we can say that research variables are essential components of
empirical investigations, as they allow researchers to test hypotheses, identify relationships, and
make predictions about outcomes. Understanding the different types of variables and how they
.are operationalized is crucial for conducting valid and reliable research
 TYPES OF RESEARCH VARIABLES

In research, variables are any measurable or controllable characteristic or property that can
take on different values or levels across individuals, groups, or situations. Variables are
important in research because they allow researchers to investigate relationships, test
hypotheses, and make predictions about behavior. There are three main types of research
.variables: independent variables, dependent variables, and control variables

1. Independent Variables (IV): An independent variable is a variable that is manipulated or

controlled by the researcher in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
Independent variables are also known as predictor variables because they are used to predict or
explain changes in the dependent variable. Independent variables can be either qualitative or
quantitative in nature, and they can be measured or manipulated in a variety of ways.
For example, if a researcher wants to study the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive
performance, sleep deprivation would be the independent variable. The researcher would
manipulate the amount of sleep that participants receive and then measure their cognitive
performance to determine if there is a significant effect. In this case, sleep deprivation is the
independent variable, because it is being manipulated by the researcher.
Another example of an independent variable could be age in a study investigating the effect of
age on memory performance. The researcher would manipulate the age of the participants, by
selecting participants from different age groups, and then measure their memory performance
to determine if there is a significant effect.
2. Dependent Variables (DV): A dependent variable is a variable that is observed or measured
in response to changes in the independent variable. Dependent variables are also known as
outcome variables because they are the variables that researchers are interested in predicting or
explaining. Dependent variables can be either qualitative or quantitative in nature, and they can
be measured in a variety of ways.
For example, in the sleep deprivation study mentioned earlier, cognitive performance would be
the dependent variable. The researcher would measure cognitive performance as an outcome of
the manipulation of the independent variable (sleep deprivation).

In a study investigating the effect of age on memory performance, memory performance would
be the dependent variable. The researcher would measure memory performance as an outcome
of the manipulation of the independent variable (age).

3. Control Variables: Control variables are variables that are held constant or are controlled in
order to minimize their influence on the dependent variable. Control variables are important in
research because they allow researchers to isolate the effects of the independent variable on the
dependent variable, by minimizing the effects of extraneous variables that could also influence
the dependent variable.
For example, in the sleep deprivation study, the researcher might control for the time of day
that cognitive performance is measured, to ensure that any changes in cognitive performance
are not simply due to circadian rhythms. By holding the time of day constant across
participants, the researcher can be more confident that any changes in cognitive performance
are due to the manipulation of the independent variable (sleep deprivation).

In a study investigating the effect of age on memory performance, the researcher might control
for variables such as education level, socioeconomic status, and health status, because these
variables could also influence memory performance. By controlling for these variables, the
researcher can be more confident that any changes in memory performance are due to the
manipulation of the independent variable (age).

In summary, independent variables, dependent variables, and control variables are important
components of research design, because they allow researchers to investigate relationships, test
hypotheses, and make predictions about behavior. By manipulating and measuring these
variables, researchers can gain insight into the factors that influence human behavior, and
develop interventions to improve health, education, and other aspects of human life.
 References:

1. Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L. S. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation

analysis for the behavioral sciences. Routledge.

2. Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. Sage publications.

3. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis: A

global perspective. Pearson.

4. Jaccard, J., & Turrisi, R. (2003). Interaction effects in multiple regression. Sage publications.

5. Johnson, R. A., & Wichern, D. W. (2007). Applied multivariate statistical analysis (Vol. 6).

Pearson Prentice Hall.