Research Concepts

Variables

A variable is any attribute that varies in quantity or quality among the members of your population. In particular, a variable may take on more than one value.

Research can be descriptive, in which case simply estimating the average value of a variable in a population might be an objective. However, most research is deductive in that it involves studying the relationships between variables. It is a rare research project indeed that involves only one variable.

In any population there will be an almost infinite number of candidates for variables. A research project will need to decide which variables will be selected for data collection. This selection is ultimately guided by a model, or theory, on how we think the variables are related.

For example, if you are studying the causes of homelessness, you probably would not collect data on eye color. Instead you would select variables for data collection that were in some way likely to be related to homelessness.That selection process is guided by your model.

Once a variable is selected for data collection, you must still decide how you will measure the variable.