Practical Research 2

Lesson 3: Variable in Quantitative Research

In quantitative research, variables are extremely important. When you want to achieve something via
research, you must first establish the boundaries of your objective to focus your attention on a certain feature or
condition by determining the variables of your research study. Understanding the various types of study variables
may also help with data collecting and analysis.
Researchers will observe and measure the quality or quantity of the study item to acquire an answer to a
question they are researching. As a result, the researcher must determine the variables that are important in
explaining observed effects or behavior.

A variable is anything that has a variable amount or quality. Your mother, for example, planted tomato plants
in containers during the quarantine time. According to current scientific knowledge, numerous variables influence
tomato development, including sunshine, water, soil type, and soil nutrients. These elements will determine how
quickly tomato seedlings develop and yield fruit. The Dependent Variables include things like tomato growth and
the number of fruits produced. The Independent Variables are the amount of sunshine, water, and nutrients in the
soil. If the independent and dependent variables have a connection, the value of the dependent variable will change
in response to the manipulation of the independent variable. The supposed cause is also known as the independent
variable, whereas the presumed consequence is known as the dependent variable. The researcher defines and
manipulates the independent variable in an experimental quantitative design, while the dependent variable is
observed and quantified. Independent and dependent variables are irrelevant in descriptive, correlational, and ex post
facto quantitative research designs.

Other elements that may impact the outcome (dependent variable) that are not controlled or pre-defined by
the researcher should be considered. Extraneous Variables are the term for these elements. The presence of pests
and environmental stressors (e.g., dogs, harsh weather) are the superfluous factors in our scenario above. Extraneous
factors might impact the outcome of an experiment, therefore it's critical for the researcher to identify them before
starting the experiment and regulate them so that they don't jeopardize the internal validity (i.e., the accuracy of the
conclusion). Holding the extraneous variable constant or distributing its influence across the treatment are two ways
to control it. The extraneous variable becomes a Confounding Variable when the researcher fails to regulate it to the
point that it has a significant impact on the conclusion. For example, if the tomato was infested with pests
(confounding variable), you can't conclude that changes in sunlight, water, and soil nutrients (independent variables)
are the only factors contributing to the plant's stunted growth and poor yield (dependent variable), or that it's a
combination of the independent variables and the confounding variable.

Variables can also be categorized based on their nature. The following diagram depicts the various
classifications:

Quantitative Variables, also called numerical variables are the type of variables used in quantitative research
because they are numeric and can be measured. Under this category are discrete and continuous variables.
a. Discrete variables are countable whole numbers. It does not take negative values or values between
fixed points. For example: number of students in a class, group size and frequency.
b. Continuous variables take fractional (non-whole number) values that can either be a positive or a
negative. Example: height, temperature.

1. Numerical data have two levels of measurement, namely:

a. Intervals are quantitative variables with equal and meaningful intervals or differences between
successive values, but arbitrary quantities. The difference between 36 and 37 degrees, for example, is the
same as the difference between 100 and 101 degrees. The lack of a quality being measured is not implied
by the 0 point. The melting point of ice is defined as a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. Year and IQ score
are two further instances of interval data.
b. Ratio data is comparable to interval data, except for the presence of a real zero value. The lack of the
amount being measured is indicated by the 0 point on this scale. Age, height, weight, and distance are
some examples.
2. Categorical Variables are descriptions or classifications that are not stated in numbers. It's further broken
down into nominal, ordinal, and dichotomous categories. Categorical Variables are also called Qualitative
Variables.
a. Dichotomous variable means that there are only two different values or categories. For example, a
question can be answered with a yes or no.
b. Nominal variable is a term that refers to a group of people. There may be more than two groups of equal
significance here. A basketball player's number, for example, is used to differentiate him from other
players. It is not the case that player 10 is superior to player 8. Blood type, hair color, and method of
transportation are among more examples.
c. Ordinal variable specifies that a variable is ordered in a certain order by its name. A qualitative or
quantitative characteristic can be assigned to this variable. A survey questionnaire, for example, may
include a numerical rating system with choices like 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ranked from highest to lowest
(5=highest, 1=lowest) or a categorical rating system with strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and
strongly disagree. Other instances of ordinal variables are cancer stage (I, II, III), Spotify Top 20 songs, and
academic distinctions (with highest, with high, with honors).
Activity 1: Identifying Variables
Directions: Identify the Independent, Dependent and Extraneous variable/s in each of the following situations.
1. Three groups of students were placed in a classroom with controlled room temperatures of 18°C, 20°C, 25°C.
The math exam scores of the students were then taken and compared to the other groups.
Independent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Extraneous variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. An online seller would like to know whether the indication of price on Facebook posts will attract consumers
more. He posted 50 products for sale on Facebook market, 25 of which he indicated the price while the
remaining 25 products, did not have prices. Buyers were just instructed to send him a personal message (pm)
if they want to know the price. He then identified which products have greater sales.
Independent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Extraneous variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. A housewife wanted to know which soil is best for her pechay plants: the soil purchased from an online seller,
soil from her backyard compost or the soil underneath the nearby bamboo tree. She planted 30 pechay seeds
into each soil source and then compared the growth of pechay after a month.
Independent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Extraneous variable: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: Classifying variables

Directions: Identify the following variable as either qualitative or quantitative. Then classify which specific category
they belong.
Classification
Type of variable (Discrete, continuous,
Data
(Qualitative/Quantitative) interval, ratio, nominal,
dichotomous, ordinal)
(Example)
Quantitative Discrete, interval
Number of eggs laid by chickens
1. Amount of fertilizer given to plants
2. Weight of Pechay harvested (in grams)
3. Speed of car
4. Tomato plant variety
5. Color of alcohol packaging (blue, orange, white, pink)
6. Educational level of parents (high school grad,
college grad, MS, PhD)
7. Online seller satisfaction rating (1- 5 stars)
8. Cellphone brand
9. Number of Covid-19 positive cases
10. Type of music
11. Number of passengers in a PUJ
12. Socio-economic status
13. Gender
14. Temperature in Fahrenheit
15. Civil Status