Types of Variables in Research
34 Questions
2 Views

Types of Variables in Research

Created by
@MerryDecagon

Podcast Beta

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What type of variable is defined as one that can increase or decrease the strength of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

  • Confounding variable
  • Extraneous variable (correct)
  • Intervening variable
  • Control variable
  • Which variable serves as a link or connection between the independent and dependent variables in a study?

  • Extraneous variable
  • Independent variable
  • Intervening variable (correct)
  • Dependent variable
  • What role does access to medical care play in the relationship between income and longevity?

  • Moderating variable
  • Intervening variable (correct)
  • Control variable
  • Extraneous variable
  • In the example of studying the effect of television watching on achievement, which of the following is considered an extraneous variable?

    <p>Type of television program watched</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to variables that are not measured in a study but still may affect the relationship being investigated?

    <p>Extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of an independent variable (IV) in a study?

    <p>It is the variable that is manipulated to observe its effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines a dependent variable (DV)?

    <p>It is the outcome that results from manipulation of the independent variable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of causal relationships, how would you identify an independent variable?

    <p>It is the variable predicting changes in another variable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following examples represents a dependent variable?

    <p>The grade a student receives after a course.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of both independent and dependent variables in a study?

    <p>Both provide insights into causal relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes a discrete quantitative variable?

    <p>Arises from a counting process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?

    <p>Distance traveled.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of qualitative variable has two categories?

    <p>Dichotomous variable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is NOT present in nominal measurement scales?

    <p>Order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of measurement scale is most appropriate for ranking variables?

    <p>Ordinal scale.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following variables is classified as a qualitative variable?

    <p>Marital status.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do interval scales differ from ratio scales?

    <p>Interval scales do not have a true zero point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of analysis is possible with interval measurement scales?

    <p>Calculating means and standard deviations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which measurement scale provides information on the magnitude of differences in variable values?

    <p>Interval scale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is unique to the ratio scale compared to the other scales?

    <p>It has an absolute zero point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the ordinal scale differ from the nominal scale?

    <p>It provides rank-order information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following variables is classified at the nominal level of measurement?

    <p>Marital status</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of measurement allows for both ranking and absolute differences?

    <p>Ratio scale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be concluded about the number of computers owned by a household in terms of measurement scale?

    <p>It is ratio as it has a true zero point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which variable represents qualitative data?

    <p>Quality of medical care</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The grade point average on a scale from 0.0 to 4.0 is classified as which level of measurement?

    <p>Ratio</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is true for interval scales but not for ratio scales?

    <p>Have properties of ordinal data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the zero point on the interval scale represent?

    <p>An arbitrary reference point</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of data measured on a ratio scale?

    <p>Time taken to complete a task</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which way do interval scales differ from ordinal scales?

    <p>They allow for comparison of differences between values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why can ratios not be calculated with interval scale data?

    <p>The zero point is not an absolute zero</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would be categorized as interval data?

    <p>Temperature in Fahrenheit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a property of ratio scales?

    <p>They do not allow for interval comparisons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which measurement scale would you generally use to report salary data?

    <p>Ratio scale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Types of Variables

    • Variables are classified based on causal relationship, study design and unit of measurement

    • Independent variable (IV): Cause of change in a phenomenon

      • Manipulated or controlled by a researcher
      • Examples: Teaching method, medical treatment, training regimen
    • Dependent variable (DV): Outcome or effect of changes

      • Result of IV manipulation
      • Examples: Achievement is the result of a teaching method, cure is the result of a medical treatment, and skill level the result of training regimen
    • Extraneous variables: Other variables not measured in a study

      • May affect the relationship between IV and DV
      • Example: "Type of program" when studying the effect of "television watching" (IV) on "achievement" (DV)
    • Intervening (mediating) variable: Connects/links IV and DV

      • Relationship between IV and DV might not be observed without the intervening variable
      • Example: "Access to medical care" when studying the association between "income" and "longevity"

    Unit of Measurement

    • Quantitative Variables: Values represent quantities, can be discrete or continuous

      • Discrete: Numerical values from counting (e.g., Household size, number of accidents)
      • Continuous: Numerical values from measuring (e.g., age, income, distance)
    • Qualitative (Categorical) Variables: Can be placed into categories

      • Dichotomous: Two categories (e.g., yes/no, male/female)
      • Polytomous: More than two categories (e.g., Marital status: single, married, divorced, widowed)

    Measurement Scales

    • Nominal Scale: Classifies objects into groups

      • Classification: Yes
      • Order: No
      • Distance: No
      • Origin: No
    • Ordinal Scale: Ranks order of categories in a nominal scale

      • Classification: Yes
      • Order: Yes
      • Distance: No
      • Origin: No
    • Interval Scale: Provides information about the magnitude of differences between values

      • Classification: Yes
      • Order: Yes
      • Distance: Yes
      • Origin: No
      • Examples: Centigrade/Fahrenheit temperature scales, Attitude scales
    • Ratio Scale: Indicates ratio of values

      • Classification: Yes
      • Order: Yes
      • Distance: Yes
      • Origin: Yes
      • Examples: Salary, profit, age, concentration, drug dose, etc.

    Summary of Measurement Scales

    • Nominal scale provides basic classification.
    • Ordinal scale adds rank-ordering.
    • Interval scale measures the magnitude of differences.
    • Ratio scale indicates proportions.

    Ratio is the highest level of measurement

    • All mathematical operations can be used on ratio scale data.
    • Ratio scale has an absolute zero point, meaning there is no value below zero.
    • Lower level measurement scales can be converted to higher levels.

    Data Measurement Levels

    • Qualitative data uses nominal or ordinal scales.
    • Quantitative data uses interval or ratio scales.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Description

    This quiz explores the different types of variables used in research design, including independent, dependent, extraneous, and intervening variables. Understand their roles, examples, and how they interact within study frameworks. Test your knowledge on variable classification and relationships in various experiments.

    More Like This

    Research Fundamentals Overview
    24 questions
    Concepto y Clasificación de Variables
    9 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser