“A variable
is something that may vary, or differ.” A variable is something that may change
over time or differ among individuals.
Some
variables differ both over time and among individuals include language
proficiency, motivation, self-esteem, and health. Some variables that only vary
among the individuals are sex, nationality, first-language background,
intelligence, and language ability.
Variables versus constructs
Variables
and constructs vary over time or among individuals. A variable is essentially
what we can observe or quantify of the human characteristic or abilities
involved, whereas a construct is the actual characteristics or abilities that
it represents in human beings.
Operationalization
It is
related to the opportunity where the researcher explains how each variable is
being defined with respect to the construct in question. Moreover, an
operational definition must be unique, or exclusive; the definition must not
also fit other possible constructs. The construct is an abstraction and is not
directly observable because it has no tangible referent in reality.
Different type of Variables
Dependent variable
Is observed
to determine what effect, if any, the other types of variables may have on it.
The dependent variable can’t be identified in isolation. It makes sense only in
the context of the other variables in the study.
Independent variable
This type
of variable is selected by the researcher to determine their effect on
relationship with the dependent variable.
Moderator
This is a
special type of independent variable that the investigator has chosen to
determine how, if at all, the relationship between the independent and
dependent variables is affected, or modified, by the moderator variable.
Control
The
researcher has chosen to keep constant neutralize or otherwise eliminate so
that they will not have an effect on the study.
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