MEANING AND TYPES OF VARIABLES
A variable, as the name implies, is something that varies. This is the simplest and broadest
way of defining a variable. However, a behavioural scientist attempts to define a variable
more precisely and specifically. Kerlinger (1986) defined variable ‘a property that taken as
different values’. According to D’Amato (1970) variables may be defined as those attributes
of objects, events, things and beings, which can be measured. Intelligence, anxiety, aptitude
etc are some examples of variables commonly employed in psychology, sociology and
education.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
i) Stimulus, Organism and Response Variables
ii) Independent and Dependent Variables
iii) Extraneous and Confounded Variables
iv) Active and Attribute Variables
v) Quantitative and Categorical Variables
vi) Continuous Variables and Discrete Variables
Stimulus, Organism and Response Variables
Psychologists are interested in studying the behaviour or causes of behaviour as variables.
Many psychologists have adopted a theoretical viewpoint or model called the S-O-R model
to explain all behaviour. The symbols S, O, and R represent different categories of variables.
S is the symbol of stimuli, and the category may be referred to in general as stimulus
variables. A stimulus variable is some form of energy in the environment, such as light, to
which the organism is sensitive. O is the symbol for organism variables , that is the
changeable physiological and psychological characteristics of the organisms being
observed. Examples of such variables are anxiety level, age and heart rate etc. Finally, R is
the symbol for response and, in general, response variables, which refer to some behaviour
or action of the organism like pressing a lever, and reaction to any stimulus, are the
examples of responses variables.
Suppose that an experiment is conducted in which a rat is placed on a metal grid floor, the
grid is electrified, and the length of time it takes the rat to jump from the grid to a platform is
measured. Using the S-O-R model, the electrical shock would be called a stimulus variable.
The intensity of shock would be the value of the variable. The particular state of the
organisms would be measured by the organismic variables. For example, the skin resistant
of the rat at the time of shock was introduced would be an organismic variables. A response
variable would be the latency (i.e. the elapsed time between the onsets of the shock and
when the rat reaches the platform).
Independent and Dependent Variables
The terms ‘dependent and independent variables’ have been borrowed from the field of
mathematics in behavioural research. This classification of variables is frequently used in
experiments.
A dependent variable (DV) is defined as one about which the experimenter makes a
prediction. It is the factor that appears, disappears, or varies as the experimenter introduces,
removes or varies the independent variable.
An independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or selected by the experimenter in
his attempt to ascertain its relationship to an observed phenomenon. Dependent upon the
mode of manipulation, some experts have tried to divide the independent variable into ‘Type
E’ independent variable and ‘Type S’ independent variable (D’Amato, 1970). Type E
independent variable is one of which is directly or experimentally manipulated by the
experimental and type S independent variable is one which is manipulated through the
process of selection only.
An example may demonstrate the distinction b/w DV and IV. Suppose the experimenter
wants to study the effect of teaching methods say A, B, C method upon the classroom
achievement of pupils. For this purpose he may employ these 3 teaching methods on same
group of pupils and subsequently the achievement may be measured or predicted. Here, the
teaching method is the IV and classroom achievement is DV.
Extraneous and Confounded Variables
Sometimes in the experiment, a variable is left uncontrolled and is unintentionally allowed to
vary the independent variable is called confounding variable. For instance, if you conducted
a study of the effect of television viewing on perception of violence with 2 groups of different
age groups, the age of participants would be confounded with the independent variable
under study. Confounding makes the conclusions of the study doubtful. It is ,therefore,
necessary that effort should be made to unconfound the variables.
Any and all other variables that may ‘mask’ the relationship between independent variable
and dependent variable are known as extraneous variables. Extraneous variables may
directly affect the dependent variable or may combine with the independent variable to
produce an affect.
(Add diagram from original egyankosh notes)
Active and Attribute Variables
Any variable that is manipulated is called active variables. Examples of active variables are
reward, punishment, methods of teaching, creating anxiety through instructions and so on.
Attribute variable is that variable which is not manipulated but measured by the
experimenter. Variables that are human characteristics like intelligence, Aptitudes, sex,
socio economic status, education, field dependence and need for achievement are the
example of attributes variables.
Quantitative and Categorical Variables
Quantitative variables is one that varies in amount whereas categorical variables varies in
kind. Speed of response, intensity of sound, intelligence etc. are the example of quantitative
variables and gender, race, religion are the example of categorical variables. Precise and
accurate measurement are possible with the quantitative variables because they can be
easily ordered in terms of increasing and decreasing magnitude categorical variables can be
of three types: Constant, dichotomous and polytomous.
When a variable can have only one value or category, for example taxi, tree and water, it is
known as a constant variables. When a variable can have only two categories as in yes/no,
good/bad and rich/poor, it is known as dichotomous variables. When variables can be
divided into more than two categories, for example: religion (Christian, Muslim, Hindu);
attitudes (strongly favorable, favorable, uncertain, unfavorable, strongly unfavorable), it’s
called a polytomous variable.
Continuous Variables and Discrete Variables
Quantitative variables are further divided into two categories, namely, continuous variables
and discrete variables. A distinction between continuous and discrete variables is especially
useful in planning of research and analysis of data. A continuous variable is one which is
capable of being measured in any arbitrary degree of fineness or exactness. Age, height,
intelligence, reaction time, etc., are some of the examples of a continuous variable. The age
of the person can be measured in years, month and days. Thus, all such variables which
can be measured in the smallest degree of fineness are called continuous variable. The
discrete variables are those variables which are not capable of being measured in any
arbitrary degree of fineness or exactness because the variables contain a clear gap. For
example, the number of members in a family, no. of females in particular group, no of books
in library and so on constitutes the examples of a discrete variable.
