CLASSIFICATION OF
VARIABLES
PREPARED BY
MARIA JESSICA M. PIEDAD
WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
A anything that can vary in research due to circumstances
variable
is… an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category
you are trying to measure
is any factor or property that a researcher measures, controls, and/or
manipulates
also the changing quantity or measure of any factor, trait, or condition
that can exist in differing amounts or types
1. NUMERIC VARIABLES
These are variables with values that
describe a measurable numerical
quantity and answer the questions
“how many” or “how much.” These
values are considered as quantitative
data.
NUMERIC VARIABLES
Continuous • These variables can assume any value between a certain set
of real numbers
Variables • Also called as interval variables
• Time, age, temperature, height and weight
• Can only assume any whole value within the limits of the
Discrete given variables
• Number of registered cars, number of business locations,
Variables number of children in the family, population of students,
total number of faculty members
CATEGORICAL VARIABLES
These are variables with
values that describe a quality
or characteristic of a data unit
like “what type” or “which
category”
CATEGORICAL VARIABLES
Ordinal Variables
• Can take a value which can be logically ordered or ranked
• Academic grades such A,B,C; clothing size such as X,L,M,S; measures of
attitudes like strongly agree,agree,disagree,or strongly disagree
Nominal Values
• Variables whose values cannot be organized in a logical sequence
• Business types, eye colors, kinds of religion, various languages, types of
learners
CATEGORICAL VARIABLES
Dichotomous Variables
• Represents only two categories
• Gender (male/female); answer( yes/no); Veracity (True/False)
Polychotomous Variables
• Variables that have many categories
• Educational attainment (elementary, high school, college, graduate,
postgraduate); level of performance (Excellent, Very Good, Good,
Satisfactory, Poor)
EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES
Independent Dependent Variable Extraneous
Variable Variables
These are variables that are already existing during the conduct
of an experiment and could influence the result of the study.
Also called as
mediating or
intervening
variables
EXAMPLES
A. Title of Research: An Experiment on the Methods of
Teaching and Language Achievement Among
Elementary Pupils
independent variable: Method of Teaching
dependent variable: Language Achievement
extraneous variable: Ventilation facilities;
Physical Ambiance
B. Title of Research:
Use of Gardening Tools and Types of Fertilizer: Their
Effects on the Amount of Harvest
independent variable: Use of gardening tools, types of
fertilizer
dependent variable: Amount of harvest
extraneous variable: Humidity level; types of
seeds/plants
NON-EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES
Predictor Criterion
Variables Variables
PREDICTOR VARIABLES
Changes the other variables in a non-
experimental way
a variable that is being used
to predict some other variable or
outcome
CRITERION VARIABLES
Usually influenced by the predictor
variables
In regression analysis (such as linear
regression) thecriterion variable is
the variable being predicted.
In general, the criterion variable is the
dependent variable.
EXAMPLES
Title of Research: Competencies of Teachers and
Students’ Behavior in Selected Private Schools
Predictor variable: Competencies of
Teachers
Criterion Variable: Students’ Behavior
VARIABLES ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER
BEING STUDIED
Univariate Variables Bivariate Variables
Polyvariate Variables
SUMMARY
1. A variable is any factor or property that a
researcher measures, controls, and/or manipulates
in a research study.
2. The different classifications of research variables
are as follows:
a. Nominal (which can be continuous or discrete)
b. Categorical (which can be ordinal or discrete
and dichotomous or polychotomous)
c. Experimental (which can be independent,
dependent, or extraneous)
d. Non-experimental (which can be either
predictor or criterion)
d. Variables according to number being
studied (which can be univariate, bivariate,
and polyvariate)
ASSIGNMENT
• Study for a chapter test on Thursday (July 5,
2018).
• Coverage:
a. Nature of a Quantitative Research
(Definition, Characteristics, Advantages and
Disadvantages, Importance)
b. Classification of Variables
