Variable

What Variable is

A variable is an attribute or characteristic of an individual, group, or phenomenon that can take on different values. Variables can be numerical or categorical.

Steps for Variable:

  1. Identify the purpose of the study and the population of interest.

  2. Determine the type of variable you need to measure in order to answer your research questions.

  3. Determine the type of measurement scale to be used (i.e., nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio).

  4. Develop the list of variables to be used in the study.

  5. Determine the values for each variable.

  6. Develop the data collection instruments for each variable.

  7. Collect the data.

  8. Analyze the data.

Examples

  1. Linear regression is used to measure the linear association between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.
  2. Logistic regression is used to estimate the probability that a binary dependent variable is a function of one or more independent variables.
  3. ANOVA is used to compare the means of a dependent variable across several levels of an independent variable.
  4. Factor analysis is used to identify underlying latent variables from a set of observed variables.
  5. Time series analysis is used to identify trends and patterns in a dependent variable over time.

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