How Students can learn About the Different Types of Variables in an Experimental research?

 A good scientific experiment requires the use of different kinds of variables. The types of variables include independent, dependent, and manipulated variables. Although these terms sound confusing, students need to understand the differences between the three. Using the right type of variable will make the experiment more successful. Students often mix up the different types of variables in research. Listed below are some examples of different kinds of variables.

Extraneous variables:

When conducting experiments, students must pay close attention to extraneous variables. These variables can influence the outcomes of the investigation. They can also be confounding variables, which means that the independent variable may be affected even if the extraneous variable is not. The extraneous variable should be eliminated when possible. In an ideal world, the experiment should involve only one independent variable, and the dependent variable should be observed after the investigation has been performed.

 

An example of an extraneous variable is the type of lab coat the participant wears. Many people assume that a person wearing a lab coat is more knowledgeable than one who does not. However, some studies limit the participants to people wearing a white lab coat, which reduces the external validity of the results. Nonetheless, the advantages of a diverse sample outweigh the disadvantages of a homogenous sample.

Independent variables:

The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that the researcher has no control over, but one that affects the result. For example, if the researcher changed the size of a dog to test how well it slept, he would still have no control over the students' test scores. But if the same dog was fed at the same time at different times of day, then the results of the feeding experiment would be confusing.

Dichotomous variables:

Dichotomous variables are categorical variables that have two levels: one is a discrete number, and the other is a serial number. In an experiment, dichotomous variables are often called binary variables. These variables are either one or 0 and can be used to describe various outcomes. Dichotomous variables can be further classified into continuous and discrete types.

 

In a survey, students are asked to estimate the effect of marital status on their weight. The researchers use marital status as an index predictor (marital status is a binary variable). The students' weighted averages for these two measures are compared at six-time points. They then use those averages to estimate the group weights' percentile difference.

Categorical variables:

When analyzing data, categorical variables are used. Categorical variables are sometimes called qualitative or discrete variables. They are measured as a count of things in a category, such as the number of males or females in a population. They can also be expressed as a group classification. This data type is particularly useful in experiment design because it enables researchers to adjust their experiments to better understand the results.

Ordinal variables:

During an experiment, students may encounter various kinds of variables. Some of them may be quantitative, such as the number of people who are allergic to a particular type of food, or they may be ordinal, such as the rating of a product on a five-star scale. A student may also encounter a numeric variable, such as the average star rating of a product. Regardless of the variable, a student should develop a data sheet recording the variables used in the experiment.

 

The first step in learning about variables is to understand what they are. Variables are different from dependent variables. The latter are variables controlled by the researcher. A good example of a dependent variable is the number of witnesses. In a controlled experiment, a researcher contains other variables, known as control variables. The experimenter used a control variable in Darley and Latane's study, which tested the reactions of people during an emergency situation by placing all the participants in a single room and randomly assigning them to two conditions.

Author Bio:

Carmen Troy is a research-based content writer, who works for Cognizantt, a globally recognized professional SEO service and Research Prospect; an 论文和论文写作服务 Mr Carmen holds a PhD degree in mass communication. He loves to express his views on various issues, including education, technology, and more.