IR1IMEM RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Variables

INDEX Variables Based on Ch. 3, 4 & 5 of Kumar

VARIABLES

This food is tasteful This lecture is fascinating I like this……. Subjective assessments Differ 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 soccer Amount 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 home How often oral abuse takes place Amount of Visits to the first aid Amount of interventions by the police …..

TYPES OF VARIABLES Unit of measurement Causal relationship Study design

VARIABLES – UNIT OF MEASUREMENT Nominal Just a name (brand of…. Coffee) Ordinal Ranking ( 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 study IR1 Hours of study IR1 Exam result

Example cause effect Hours of study IR1 Hours of study IR1 Exam result Illness Work Distraction Lectures Assignments ……… Illness Work Distraction Lectures Assignments ……… Intervening variables

VARIABLES – STUDY DESIGN For controlled experiments Active variables Can be manipulated, changed or controlled Attribute variables Cannot be manipulated, reflect characteristics of the sample

Example Active- Passive Hours of study IR1 (active) Hours of study IR1 (active) Exam 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 variable Cause (assumed) Dependent variable Effect (assumed) Extraneous variable May affect dependent Intervening variable (or confound variables) Link between independent & dependent