Variables in Educational Research

Abstract

A variable is a concept, construct, condition, or attribute that can have several values. For example, people’s IQ is measured on a scale from low to high. Gender is another variable that can have two values, such as ‘Male’ or ‘Female’. Kerlinger (1986), UNESCO (2005), and Kumar (2001) et al. classify the variable in various ways. However, most of them concentrate on independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding, intervening, and moderator variables. The majority of educational research studies are completely dependent on these variables. So, in any research study, these variables are referred to be key variables. These important variables are explored using four primary study designs: descriptive, causal comparative, co-relational, and experimental/quasi-experimental. (Korb, 2012). Variables other than the essential variables are not investigated in any research study. But these are used to carry out the research study.