Different Types of
Variables in a Research
Variables are attributes to which various
values can be assigned.
A variable involves
anything that can accept different values. The mentioned values might be
different for different individuals and objects that the scores of an
individual on various tests can be considered as an example with regard to the
issue.
In a general
definition, it can be stated that it is an attribute or a factor
which is shared among a society’s population having the capacity of taking
different values that the assigned value to a variable is demonstrative of a
change from an individual to another or from a state to the next.
Types
of variables
AcDEPENDENT VARIABLES
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Dependent varibles show the effect of manipulating or introducing the independent variables. For example, if the independent variable is the use or non-use of a new language teaching procedure, then the dependent variable might be students' scores on a test of the content taught using that procedure. In other words, the variation in the dependent variable depends on the variation in the independent variable. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES Independent variables are those that the researcher has
control over. This "control" may involve manipulating existing
variables (e.g., modifying existing methods of instruction) or introducing new
variables (e.g., adopting a totally new method for some sections of a class) in
the research setting. Whatever the case may be, the researcher expects that the
independent variable(s) will have some effect on (or relationship with) the
dependent variables. EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES Extraneous variables are those factors in the research
environment which may have an effect on the dependent variable(s) but which are
not controlled. Extraneous variables are dangerous. They may damage a study's
validity, making it impossible to know whether the effects were caused by the
independent and moderator variables or some extraneous factor. If they cannot
be controlled, extraneous variables must at least be taken into consideration
when interpreting results. MODERATOR VARIABLES
Moderator affect the
relationship between the independent and dependent variables by modifying the
effect of the intervening variable(s). Unlike extraneous variables, moderator
variables are measured and taken into consideration. Typical moderator
variables in TESL and language acquisition research (when they are not the
major focus of the study) include the sex, age, culture, or language
proficiency of the subjects. |
