Variables MCQ Quiz in தமிழ் - Objective Question with Answer for Variables - இலவச PDF ஐப் பதிவிறக்கவும்

The correct answer is - Discrete Variable.

Key Points

• Discrete variables are those that can take on a finite or countably infinite set of values, often represented by integers.
• In the context of an entrance examination where marks are awarded or deducted based on correct and incorrect answers, the scores would be considered a discrete variable.
• This is because the total score a candidate can achieve is calculated by a finite number of questions, leading to a countable set of possible scores (even when accounting for deductions).

Additional InformationNominal Variable:

• Nominal variables are categories without any quantitative value or order.
• Examples include gender, nationality, or color.
• The marks scored in an examination do not fit this description as they represent quantifiable data rather than mere categories.

Ordinal Variable:

• Ordinal variables represent categories with a natural order but do not precisely quantify the difference between categories.
• An example would be ranking levels such as high, medium, and low.
• While examination scores can be ranked, the variable in question directly quantifies performance with a numerical value, making it more than just an ordered category.

Continuous Variable:

• Continuous variables can take on any value within a range, including fractions and decimals, theoretically to infinite decimal places.
• Examination scores, as described, do not fit this criterion because they change in discrete jumps (1 point for a correct answer or a deduction of 0.25 for an incorrect one), rather than continuously.

Key Points

 The question of whether the results of a study can be generalized beyond the specific research context relates to external validity.

External validity:

• External validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times.
• It is important to consider external validity when interpreting the results of a study, as it helps to determine whether the results are applicable to other situations.

Additional Information

•  Measurement validity is the extent to which a measurement instrument accurately measures what it is supposed to measure.
• Internal validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be attributed to the independent variable and not to other factors.
• Ecological validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to real-world settings.

Variable in research is anything that a researcher wants to measure in his/her research study. There are three types of variables,

1. Independent variable: The variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables you are trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.

2. Dependent variable: The variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.

3. Extraneous variables: anything that varies in the context of a study other than the independent and dependent variables. It is also called the participant variable. For example, noise, writing ability, ill-health in communication.

• A college teacher intends to find out as to what extent student involvement in learning of boys and girls from rural/urban areas is attributable to the socio-economic status of the family from which they hail. 
• This project aims to find out socio-economic status as a factor in learning.
• So it is clear about the project that student involvement in learning depends on the socio-economic status of the family.
• The active involvement in learning changes dew respect of the family status of the student.
• The socio-economic status of the family does not change with the learning and involvement of students from the rural area.
• So, Student involvement in learning is a dependent variable while the socio-economic status of the family is independent.

A thing that is changeable or a quantity that may have a number of different values is known as a variable. Variables are tangible and can be manipulated, controlled, or observed by the experimenter. 

Sample: A sample may be defined as a representative subset or cross-section of the population in miniature. It should homogeneously represent the entire field. The validity of research results much depends upon the quality of the sample drawn.

Heuristic: A heuristic method or a heuristic approach is an approach to solving problems or self-discovery using a realistic method that is not ideal, perfect, or logical but still adequate for an immediate, short-term goal or path.

Statistics: The statistics is an area in which data are collected, structured, analyzed, interpreted and presented. It is conventional to start with a statistical population or statistical model to be studied when applying statistics to a scientific, industrial, or social question.

Hence, from the above points, we can conclude that an attribute like height, weight, or happiness that is measurable and that is assigned with changing values be called variables.

Additional Information:

Types of variables:

Key Points

• In much of social research, the variables used are non-manipulable, meaning that the researcher cannot directly manipulate them as they would with other types of variables.
• Non-manipulable variables are often used in social research because they involve complex human behaviors or attitudes that cannot be easily changed.
• Examples of non-manipulable variables include age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
• Despite the inability to manipulate these variables directly, they can still be measured and analyzed to identify patterns and relationships with other variables of interest.
• The use of non-manipulable variables requires careful planning and design of research studies to ensure the validity and reliability of the data collected.

 Additional Information

• Manipulable variables: Variables that can be directly manipulated or controlled by the researcher.
• Experimental variables: The independent variable in an experiment that is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
• Deviational variables: Variables that can influence the outcome of an experiment but are not directly manipulated by the researcher.

In research, a variable is essentially a person, place, object, or phenomenon that you are attempting to quantify in some way. 

Key Points

• The concept of fact has several related meanings but all imply a discrete contemporary or historical existent phenomenon. 
• Variables can be measured or categorised, their values can change over time and unit. Variables include things like gender, hair colour, shoe size, economic level, and sickness status.
• It can also measure abstract concepts and complex phenomena.
• the identification and measurement of variables involve necessary elements: 
  • Definition of variables
  • Conceptualization of variables
  • Operationalization of variables
• Defining a variable is important before conceptualization, operationalization, Researchers tries to define the variable. 
• Variables have a conceptual understanding that essentially explains what the variable is attempting to capture.
• Variables also have an operational definition of how the variable will be measured in the context of the study. 

​Therefore, The facts that should be collected to measure a variable, depending upon the conceptual understanding, dictionary meaning, operational definition.

Important Points

• The conceptual definition is critical since a researcher must comprehend all of a concept's or construct's intricacies.
• The operational definition is critical because if it is erroneous, it may result in the identification of an inappropriate or incorrect variable, which can have a detrimental impact on the study and its outcomes.
• The variable that captures all aspects of a concept completely, therefore, the measurement important aspect of empirical research. 

Quasi-experimental Design:

• The prefix quasi means “resembling.” Thus quasi-experimental research is research that resembles experimental research but is not true experimental research.
• Although the independent variable is manipulated, participants are not randomly assigned to conditions or orders of conditions. Because the independent variable is manipulated before the dependent variable is measured, quasi-experimental research eliminates the directionality problem. But because participants are not randomly assigned—making it likely that there are other differences between conditions—quasi-experimental research does not eliminate the problem of confounding variables. In terms of internal validity, therefore, quasi-experiments are generally somewhere between correlational studies and true experiments.
• Quasi-experiments are most likely to be conducted in field settings in which random assignment is difficult or impossible, thus the researcher uses intact classrooms as experimental.
• Quasi-experimental research involves the manipulation of an independent variable without the random assignment of participants to conditions or orders of conditions. Among the important types are nonequivalent groups designs, pretest-posttest, and interrupted time-series designs.
• Quasi-experimental research eliminates the directionality problem because it involves the manipulation of the independent variable. It does not eliminate the problem of confounding variables, however, because it does not involve random assignment to conditions.
• For these reasons, quasi-experimental research is generally higher in internal validity than correlational studies but lower than true experiments.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 4.

 Key Points

Assertion A: Experimental research allows you to eliminate the influence of many extraneous factors.

• Experimental research is a scientific method where researchers actively manipulate one or more independent variables while controlling extraneous variables to study their impact on a dependent variable.
• By doing so, experimental researchers can establish causal relationships and gain greater control over the study's conditions, reducing the influence of unrelated factors on the observed outcomes.
• Assertion is true.

Reason R: In experimental research, variables are actively manipulated, and the environment is as controlled as possible.

• In experimental research, researchers intentionally manipulate the independent variables to observe their effects on the dependent variable.
• Additionally, they take rigorous measures to control the environment and eliminate confounding variables that could interfere with the study's outcomes.
• By controlling these aspects, researchers can isolate the true effects of the variables they are studying.
• Thus, reason is true.

Thus, Experimental research's effectiveness lies in its ability to actively manipulate variables and tightly control the study's environment, allowing researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships and minimize the impact of extraneous factors on the results.

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 

Key Points

•  Conceptual variables are abstract concepts that cannot be directly observed. To make them scientifically researchable, they must be redefined into empirical variables that can be measured.
• This can be done by developing operational definitions, specific procedures for measuring the conceptual variable.

Hence Statement I: is true.

Statement II: Clear and detailed procedures and instruments to make the actual observations should be specified so that other researchers/scientists do not duplicate the observations.

•  While providing clear and detailed procedures and instruments for making observations is important, this is not to prevent other researchers from duplicating the observations.
• On the contrary, it is important to make the procedures and instruments as public as possible so that other researchers can replicate the study and verify the findings.
• Replication is an important part of the scientific process. It allows researchers to check the accuracy of a study's findings and build confidence in the results. By providing clear and detailed procedures and instruments, researchers make it easier for other researchers to replicate their studies.

Hence Statement II: is false.

Therefore, the correct answer is 3) Statement I is true but Statement II is false.