IR1IMEM

RESEARCH METHODOLOGYVariables

INDEX

Variables

Based on Ch. 3, 4 & 5 of Kumar

VARIABLES

This food is tastefulThis lecture is fascinatingI like this…….

Subjective assessmentsDiffer from one person to another(quantitative research)

CONCEPTS & VARIABLES

‘An image, perception or concept that is capable of measurement – hence capable of taking different values – is called a variable’ [Kumar, p.62]The difference between a concept and a variable is measurability‘Concepts are mental images or perceptions’Concepts need to be converted to variables (i.e. operationalized)

What is a Variable

Something that can vary

What is a concept

Define what is an excellent achievement in soccer.

Write down

Concept to variable

Excellent achievement in soccerAmount of goals against the team

Amount of goals the team scored

The position on the ranking list

The way hey performed the game

The amount of penalties the team players received

……..

Concept

Domestic violence?What is domestic violence

How can you measure domestic violence

Domestic violence

Amount of injuries at homeHow often oral abuse takes placeAmount of Visits to the first aidAmount of interventions by the police…..

TYPES OF VARIABLES

Unit of measurementCausal relationshipStudy design

VARIABLES – UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

NominalJust a name (brand of…. Coffee)

OrdinalRanking ( Sports result in soccer, best student in class)

Interval (scale)Exact score,

Ratio (scale)Scientific measurement ( absolute 0), Length in cm’s

VARIABLES – cause-effect

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Extraneous variable

Intervening variable

Example cause effect

Hours of studyIR1

Hours of studyIR1 Exam resultExam result

Example cause effect

Hours of studyIR1

Hours of studyIR1 Exam resultExam result

IllnessWork

DistractionLectures

Assignments………

IllnessWork

DistractionLectures

Assignments………

Intervening variables

VARIABLES – STUDY DESIGN

For controlled experimentsActive variables

Can be manipulated, changed or controlled

Attribute variablesCannot be manipulated, reflect characteristics of the sample

Example Active- Passive

Hours of studyIR1 (active)

Hours of studyIR1 (active) Exam resultExam result

Illness (active)Work (active)

Distraction (active)Lectures (active)

Assignments (active)………

Illness (active)Work (active)

Distraction (active)Lectures (active)

Assignments (active)………

Intervening variables

Gender (attribute)Nationality (attribute)Religion (attribute)

Age (Attribute)

Gender (attribute)Nationality (attribute)Religion (attribute)

Age (Attribute)

VARIABLES – CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP

For studies that attempt to investigate a causal relationship or association

Independent variableCause (assumed)

Dependent variableEffect (assumed)

Extraneous variableMay affect dependent

Intervening variable (or confound variables)Link between independent & dependent