VARIABLES IN RESEARCH
What Is A Variable?
A variable is anything that may assume different
numerical or categorical values
A variable represents a quality or an attribute
Variables are at the empirical level and are
‘measurable’
The characteristics of variables are revealed
through observation or experience
What a Variable Represents?
Event Act
Variable
Variable
Characteristic Trait
Categorical / Numerical Variable
In statistical analysis a variable is identified by a
symbol, such as ‘X’
Categories or numerical values may then be
associated with this symbol
Any variable that takes qualitative values are
called Categorical Variables (e.g. Gender;
Yes or No)
Any variable that takes quantitative values are
called Numerical Variable (e.g. height /
weight / speed / cost)
Types of Data
Data
Categorical Numerical
(Qualitative) (Quantitative)
Discrete Discrete or Continuous
Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio
Qualitative and Quantitative data
Qualitative Data Quantitative Data
Deals with descriptions Deals with numbers
Data can be observed but Data can be measured
not measured
Colors, textures, smell, tastes, Length, height, area, volume,
appearance, beauty, etc. weight, speed, time, temp.
humidity, sound levels, cost,
members, ages, etc.
Qualitative → Quality Quantitative → Quantity
Types of Variables
Male/Female
Dichotomous
Dichotomous
Male/Female
Employed/
Employed/Unemployed
Unemployed
Ethnic
Ethnicbackground
background
Discrete
Discrete Educational
Educationallevel
level
Religious
Religiousaffiliation
affiliation
Income
Income
Temperature
Continuous
Continuous Temperature
Age
Age
Discrete variables take only certain values
Continuous variables take on values within a
given range or, in some cases, an infinite set.
Independent and Dependent Variables
Dependent Variable
Independent Variable(DV)
(IV)
Criterion
Predictor
Presumed effect
cause
Response
Stimulus
Predicted to….
from…
Consequence
Antecedent
Measured
Manipulatedoutcome
Dependent Variable (DV)
DV is the variable of primary interest to the
researcher
It is measurable and quantifiable in nature
The dependent variable is the variable
expected to be affected by the manipulation
of an independent variable
Ex: A manager is concerned that the sales of a
new product after test marketing, is not as per
expectations
Independent Variable
An independent variable is one that influences
the dependent variable in a +ve or –ve way
An independent variable is the variable
manipulated by the researcher to cause an
effect on the dependent variable
Often research involves establishing the
causality of the relationship between the IV
and DV
IV – DV Example
“Research studies indicate that successful new
product development has an influence on the
stock price of the company”
IV – DV Example 2
“Research indicates that managerial values
govern the power distance between superiors
and subordinates”
IV – DV Example 3
“It has been found that there is a relationship
between the availability of Reference Manuals
and number of product rejects”
Moderating Variable (MV)
The moderating variable is one that has a
strong contingent effect on the IV-DV
relationship
That is, the presence of a third variable (the
moderating variable) modifies the original
relationship between the IV and the DV
Ex: The Reference Manuals # of Rejects
relationship is contingent upon the inclination
or urge of the employees to look into the
Manual every time a new procedure is to be
adopted.
IV – DV – MV Example
MV Example 2
“Diversity of workforce contributes to
organizational effectiveness because each
group brings its own special expertise and
skills to the workplace”
This synergy can be exploited, however, only if
managers know how to tap the special talents
of the diverse work group; otherwise they will
remain untapped
IV – DV – MV Example 2
Intervening Variable (IVV)
An IVV is one that surfaces between the time
the IVs start operating to influence the DV and
the time their impact is felt on it
There is thus a ‘time’ dimension to the IVV
The IVV surfaces as a function of the IV(s) and
helps to explain the influence of the IV(s) on
the DV
IVV Example
Where the IV workforce diversity influences
the DV organizational effectiveness, the IVV
that surfaces as a function of the diversity of
workforce is creative synergy
This helps us to understand how
organizational effectiveness can result from
having diversity in workforce
IV – IVV – DV Example
IV – MV – IVV – DV Example
MV Example 2
The switch to commission from a salary
compensation system will lead to increased
sales productivity per worker, especially
among younger workers
Extraneous Variable
Extraneous variables are responsible for
chance variations observed in a research
For example, family pressures or a tyrannical
boss could affect the ‘flexi-time’ impact
If this is significant, the researcher would
block their effect by using an experimental
and control group.
Exercise 1: Identify the Variables
The switch to a commission compensation
system will lead to higher sales productivity by
increasing overall compensation
Exercise 2: Identify the Variables
A promotion campaign will increase savings
activity, especially when free prizes are
offered, but chiefly among smaller savers. The
results come from enhancing the motivation
to save.
IV ---- Mediator
DV----- Mediator
IV ---- DV
IV---- DV
IV Not related to Moderator
Moderator not related to DV
