The Nature of Quantitative and Qualitative Data and Variables

Introduction

It is very essential to know the very introduction of data analysis. To

demonstrate ULOb, you need to have an understanding on the different topics to be
discussed in this competency. Please refer to the following terms below which are
operationally defined for your easy understanding.

a. Data. These are information to be collected from the participants or

respondents. These can be in a form of primary or secondary data.

b. Variable. This refers to the trait or attribute that is being measured in a

study.

Research Problem: “The academic performance of Senior High School during blended
Learning: An exploratory Study”

Grades, OB performance

Research Title: “The Motivation and Academic Performance of Senior High School in
Psychology”

Dependent Variable Academic

Independent Variable Motivation
Performance

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Statement of the Problem

This study will investigate the relationship of motivation and academic performance of
Senior High School in Psychology at Universidad De Manila, school year 2023-2024.

Specifically, this study will answer the following:

1. What is the level of motivation of the senior high school student in Psychology in terms
of
a. Extrinsic Motivation
b. Intrinsic Motivation
c. Achievement Motivation

2. What is the students’ academic performance of Senior High school students in

Psychology?
3. Is there a significant relationship between the level of motivation and the academic
performance of senior high school students at UDM?
Hypothesis

This study will be measured at 0.05 level of significance.

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the level of motivation and the academic
performance of senior high school students at UDM.

Scope and Limitation

This study will investigate the relationship between motivation and academic
performance of the Senior High School students. The study will investigate the relationship
between motivation and academic performance of the Senior High School students.
This study will consider three (3) sections of senior high school. The respondents will be
150 students equally coming from the different section. The study will be conducted at
Universidad De Manila located at One Mehan Garden, Arroceros Manila.
The study will commence this April SY 2023 – 2024

What: This study will investigate the relationship between motivation and academic
performance of the Senior High School students.
Why: Using correlation, the researcher will prove that motivation affects the performance of the
students in class.
Who: This study will consider three (3) sections of senior high school. The respondents will be
150 students equally coming from the different section.
Where: The study will be conducted at Universidad De Manila located at One Mehan Garden,
Arroceros Manila.
When: The study will commence this April SY 2023 – 2024

Lesson Proper
Nature of Variables

One of the important matters in research is the identification of the variables.

Amorado and Talili (2017) defined variable as any entity that can take on different
values which are measurable. Moreover, Faltado et al. (2016) added that variable is
anything that may assume varied numerical and categorical values. Example of a
variable is sex, age, type of business firm, and employment status.

Variables are categorized into categorical and continuous variables and

independent and dependent variables.

Categorical Variables

These are also called as discrete or classificatory variables. These

are variables which takes a distinct and exact value and does not merit decimal
values. Example: sex (male or female), blood type (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-,
AB+, AB-) and etc. Two common categories of categorical variables are
nominal and ordinal.

Nominal Variables. These are variables that does not follow order or
rank and do not have quantitative values. These, sometimes, implies label or
identification. Example you are conducting business research which seeks to
identify the quality of life of insurance agents in the Philippines and you need
to get their sex as a demographic profile. So, sex is a nominal variable.

Ordinal Variables. These are variables that can be ranked and has
clearing orders. Example is conducting research about the financial status of
the residents in Digos City and you included in your demographic profile
the socio – economic status (low, medium, high). Socio – economic status
implies order.

Continuous Variables

These are variable that take infinite variables and merit decimal
values. Example of these variables are age, temperature and income. Two
common categories are interval and ratio.

Interval Variables. These are variables which can be measured by

providing meanings within intervals and do not indicate no value to zero (0).
Example is temperature. When we say zero (0) degree Celsius does not mean
no temperature. It can still be felt does the value exists.
 Ratio Variables. These are interval variables but with indication of the
true condition of zero. This means that variable is none if and only if the
value is zero (0).

Independent Variables and Dependent Variables

Independent variables are variables which are responsible for conditions that
could bring change. Others called these as predictors. On the other hand, dependent
variables are the outcome variables or the results or effect of the changes brought by
another variable.
Example: Sales Marketing Strategies and Profitability of Food Restaurants in Digos
City. Sales marketing strategies is the independent variable while profitability is the
dependent variable because sales marketing strategies may contribute an effect or an
influence to profitability.

NATURE OF DATA

Data are information (attitudes, behavior, motivations, attributes, etc.) collected

from participants or observations (mechanical or direct) or from secondary sources. In
data collection, there are primary and secondary data. Primary data are that
information gathered by the researcher at hand while secondary data are data which
are coming from other secondary sources. Example of primary data are response from
Attitude Scale while example of a secondary data are grades.

Furthermore, there are data called quantitative data and qualitative data.
Quantitative data are data gathered in a form of numerical figures which are subject
for quantitative analysis using statistics. This is true for quantitative research. Types of
these data are discrete and continuous data. Meanwhile, qualitative data are data in a
form of text and can only be coded using numbers to be used as representation.
Types of these data are nominal and categorical data. See figure below.

Discrete Data. These are quantitative data which takes an exact whole number
and does not matter with the presence of decimal values. Example is number of
employees in a financial firm. A business manager cannot say that he has 10 ½
employees because there is no such thing as ½ workers. Rather he has 10 employees.

Continuous Data. These are quantitative data which takes the exact whole
number and the presence of a decimal value. Example is age (10 years and 9 months
old) or weight (75.78 kgs.)

Nominal Data. These are qualitative data which entails labelling or identifying.
These data are unique from each other. Examples are School ID Number and SSS
Number.

Categorical Data. These are qualitative data which entails categorization.

Examples are sex (male or female) and employment status (regular, probationary,
contractual).

DATA

QUALITATIVE
QUANTITATIVE DATA
DATA

DISCRETE CONTINUOUS NOMINAL CATEGORICAL

Nature of Data

MEASUREMENT AND ITS LEVELS

Measurement in research consists of assigning numbers to empirical events,

objects, or properties, or activities in compliance with a set of rules. This pertains to
measuring an extent, dimension, quantity, or capacity especially by comparison with a
standard. It is empirical because researchers intend to describe, explain, and make
predictions by relying on information gained through observation. Example you wanted
to measure if solo parents are satisfied with their financial savings, then you may
use the scaling below.

I am satisfied with my financial savings.

Very Satisfied 5 4 3 2 1 Very Unsatisfied

Measurement has its own levels. These are nominal scales, ordinal scales,
interval scales, and ratio scales.

Nominal Scales. These are scales that does not follow order or rank and do not
have quantitative values. These, sometimes, implies label or identification. Example
you are conducting business research which seeks to identify the quality of life of
insurance agents in the Philippines and you need to get their sex as a demographic
profile. So, sex is a nominal variable.

Ordinal Scales. These are scales that can be ranked and has clearing orders.
Example is conducting research about the financial status of the residents in Digos City
and you included in your demographic profile the socio – economic status (low,
medium, high). Socio – economic status implies order.
 Interval Scales. These are scales which can be measured by providing
meanings within intervals and do not indicate no value to zero (0). Example is
temperature. When we say zero (0) degree Celsius does not mean no temperature. It
can still be felt does the value exists.

Ratio Scales. These are interval scales but with indication of the true
condition of zero. This means that variable is none if and only if the value is zero (0).
Example is age in years.

Online References for further readings:

For more information about the lesson, please access the following below:
1. http://fe.unj.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Research-
Design_Qualitative- Quantitative-and-Mixed-Methods-Approaches.pdf
2. http://homepage.stat.uiowa.edu/~rdecook/stat1010/notes/
Section_2.1_2.2_d ata_types_and_errors.pdf

Assessment:

Activity 1. ASSESS. Below are different research questions/ statement of the

problem. Assess and indicate what data are needed: quantitative data or qualitative data.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS/ STATEMENT OF THE ANSWER

PROBLEM
1. What are the challenges faced by Manobo tribe in
achieving peace against leftist?
2. To what extent is the political literacy of the students
who took political science study?
3. What is the satisfaction rating of Josef Fortich Cagas, the
City of Mayor of Digos in terms of:
a. Leadership
b. Transparency
c. Humanitarian
d. Attitude
4. How did the victims cope up with the challenges after
closure of KAPPA Ministry?
5. What are the strategies of Manobo Tribe to achieve
utmost peace from the NPA?

Activity 2. IDENTIFY. On the space provided before each item, write D if the
item is discrete or C if it is continuous data.
1. Number of typhoons that hit the Philippines this year.
2. Height of college freshmen in your school.
3. Number of air-conditioned rooms in your school.
 4. Distance from Jolo to Baguio
5. Weight of a chocolate bar.
6. Number of children.
7. Temperature
8. Age
9. Distance from Digos City to Makilala
10. Grade/score

Activity 3. GIVE. Given the levels of measurement. In each level, provide three (3) examples of
data aligned to Educational Researches.

NOMINAL

ORDINAL
SCALE

RATIO