Research methodology Chapter 6

Variable and scaleChapter 6

Variables

• An image, perception or concept that is capable of measurement – hence capable of taking onddifferent values – is called a variable. In other words, a concept that can be measured is called a variable.

• According to Kerlinger, ‘A variable is a property that takes on different values.

The difference between a concept and a variable

• Measurability is the main difference between a concept and a variable.

• Concepts are mental images or perceptions and therefore their meanings vary markedly from individual to individual, whereas variables are measurable, though, of course, with varying degrees of accuracy.

Concepts Variables

EffectivenessSatisfactionImpactExcellentHigh achieverSelf esteemRichDomestic violenceetc

Gender (male / femaleAttitudeAge (X year)Income ( Rs…)Weight( -----kg)Height (---- cm)Religion etc

If you are using a concept in your study, you need to consider its operationalisation – that is, how it will be measured. In most cases, to operationalise a concept you first need to go through the process of identifying indicators – a set of criteria reflective of the concept – which can then be convertedinto variables.

Converting concept into variable

Types of variable• A variable can be classified in a number of

ways. The classification developed here results from looking at variables in three different ways

• the causal relationship;• the study design;• the unit of measurement.

In studies that attempt to investigate a causal relationship or association, four sets of variables may operate

1. change variables, which are responsible for bringing about change in a phenomenon, situation or circumstance;

2. outcome variables, which are the effects, impacts or consequences of a change variable;

3. variables which affect or influence the link between cause-and-effect variables;

4. connecting or linking variables, which in certain situations are necessary to complete the relationship between cause-and-effect variables.

• In research terminology, change variables are called independent variables, outcome/effect variables are called dependent variables, the unmeasured variables affecting the cause-and-effect relationship are called extraneous variables and the variables that link a cause-and-effect relationship are called intervening variables. Hence:

1. Independent variable – the cause supposed to be responsible for bringing about change(s) in a phenomenon or situation.

2. Dependent variable – the outcome or change(s) brought about by introduction of an independent variable.

3. Extraneous variable – several other factors operating in a real-life situation may affect changes in the dependent variable. These factors, not measured in the study, may increase or decrease the magnitude or strength of the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

4. Intervening variable – sometimes called the confounding variable (Grinnell 1988: 203), it links the independent and dependent variables. In certain situations the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable cannot be established without the intervention of another variable. The cause, or independent, variable will have the assumed effect only in the presence of an intervening variable.

Types of variable in a causal relationship

Independent, dependent and extraneous variables in a causal

relationship

Categorical/continuous and quantitative/qualitative variables

Measurement and scale

• Types of measurement scale

The most widely used classification of measurement scales are:

(a)nominal scale;

(b) ordinal scale;

(c) interval scale; and

(d) ratio scale.

Nominal scale :• Nominal scale is simply a system of

assigning number symbols to events in order to label them. Nominal scale is the least powerful level of measurement. It indicates no order or distance relationship and has no arithmetic origin. A nominal scale simply describes differences between things by assigning them to categories. Nominal data are, thus, counted data.

Ordinal scale:• The lowest level of the ordered scale that is commonly

used is the ordinal scale. The ordinal scale places events in order, but there is no attempt to make the intervals of the scale equal in terms of some rule. Rank orders represent ordinal scales and are frequently used in research relating to qualitative phenomena.

• Since the numbers of this scale have only a rank meaning, the appropriate measure of central tendency is the median. A percentile or quartile measure is used for measuring dispersion. Correlations are restricted to various rank order methods. Measures of statistical significance are restricted to the non-parametric methods.

Interval scale:

In the case of interval scale, the intervals are adjusted in terms of some rule that has been established as a basis for making the units equal. The units are equal only in so far as one accepts the assumptions on which the rule is based.

Interval scales can have an arbitrary zero, but it is not possible to determine for them what may be called an absolute zero or the unique origin.

The primary limitation of the interval scale is the lack of a true zero; it does not have the capacity to measure the complete absence of a trait or characteristic.

Interval scales provide more powerful measurement than ordinal scales for interval scale also incorporates the concept of equality of interval. As such more powerful statistical measures can be used with interval scales. Mean is the appropriate measure of central tendency, while standard deviation is the most widely used measure of dispersion. Product moment correlation techniques are appropriate and the generally used tests for statistical significance are the ‘t’ test and ‘F’ test.

Ratio scale:

Ratio scales have an absolute or true zero of measurement. The term ‘absolute zero’ is not as precise as it was once believed to be. We can conceive of an absolute zero of length and similarly we can conceive of an absolute zero of time.

Ratio scale represents the actual amounts of variables. Measures of physical dimensions such as weight, height, distance, etc. are examples. Generally, all statistical techniques are usable with ratio scales and all manipulations that one can carry out with real numbers can also be carried out with ratio scale values. Multiplication and division can be used with this scale but not with other scales mentioned above. Geometric and harmonic means can be used as measures of central tendency and coefficients of variation may also be calculated.