DIFFERENT TYPES OF VARIABLES

 

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

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.