This document defines and describes different types of variables that are commonly used in quantitative research. It discusses categorical and quantitative variables, as well as independent, dependent, mediating, moderating, intervening, and extraneous variables. Categorical variables divide phenomena into categories, while quantitative variables vary in degree. Independent variables are manipulated by researchers, dependent variables are measured outcomes, and mediating/moderating variables explain relationships between independent and dependent variables.

1. VariablesBy
Nadeem Shoukat

3. Nadeem Shoukat
MS Clinical Psychology

4. variables

5. Variables
• Variable is any characteristic which is subject to
change and can have more than one value such as
age, intelligence, gender etc. The basic building blocks
of quantitative research are variables.
• In Short it is a measurable factor, characteristic, or
attribute of an individual or a system

6. Types of Variables
1. Categorical Variable 1. Independent Variable
2. Quantitative Variable 2. Dependent Variable
3. Mediating Variable
4. Moderating Variable
Variables
Level of Measurement Role of Variable

7. Categorical Variable
• Categorical variable are made up of different types or
categories of a phenomenon. For Example The
categories of gender are: male and female, Marital
Status: Married and Unmarried etc.

8. Quantitative Variable
Varies in degree or amount of a phenomenon. For
Example Annual Income varies from zero income to
very high income level.

9. Independent variable (IV)
• Researcher manipulates one or more factors and observes
the effects on behavior is known as IV.
• It is also called causal variable or predictor.
• For Example Study time effects test grades.
Study Time (IV) Test Grades (DV)

10. Dependent variable (DV)
• The measures of the behavior that are used to assess the
effect of the IV is called DV.
• It is also called effect or outcome variable or criterion.
• For Example Internet Addiction affects the performance of
students.
Internet Addiction (IV) Performance (DV)

11. Extraneous variable
• An Extraneous Variable is something that the experimenter
cannot control, which can have an effect on the overall
outcome of the experiment.
• For example weather, temperature, light, atmosphere etc.

12. Intervening Variable
• An intervening variable is a hypothetical variable used to explain
causal links between other variables. Intervening variables
cannot be observed in an experiment (that’s why they are
hypothetical). They can not be measured they are not real.
• For example: There is an association between being poor and
having a shorter life span. Just because someone is poor doesn’t
mean that will lead to an early death, so other hypothetical
variables are used to explain the phenomenon. These intervening
variables could include: lack of access to healthcare or poor
nutrition.

13. Mediating variable
• Mediating variable is the middle variable between IV & DV which explains the
relationship between IV & DV e.g. IV is not directly influencing DV but rather IV is
indirectly influencing DV through mediator variable.
• In 1986 Baron & Kenny introduce the concept of mediation & moderation & he
gave pathway analysis. (4 path to analyze M&M)
1. IV should be significantly effect on MV.
2. MV Should be significantly effect on DV.
3. IV Should be directly predict on DV.
4. IV & M (Both) effected on DVs. Memory (M)
Study Time (IV) Test Grades (DV)
a b
c
d

14. Moderating variable
• A moderator is a variable that affects the strength of the
relation between the predictor and criterion variable.
Moderators specify when a relation will hold. It can be
qualitative (e.g., sex, race, class…) or quantitative (e.g., drug
dosage or level of reward).
Study Time (IV) Test Grades (DV)
Reward (M)

15. Message to all viewers
“‫ا‬‫ن‬‫ر‬‫ک‬ ‫ہ‬‫ن‬‫م‬‫ل‬‫ظ‬‫ر‬‫پ‬‫مزور‬‫ک‬ ‫سی‬‫ک‬ ‫ھی‬‫ب‬‫ھی‬‫ب‬‫ک‬”
‫کہ‬‫ون‬‫ی‬‫ک‬
‫ے‬‫ہ‬‫ا‬‫ن‬‫پ‬‫د‬‫ھوڈ‬‫چ‬‫ر‬‫پ‬‫ہللا‬‫عاملہ‬‫م‬‫ا‬‫ن‬‫پ‬‫آ‬‫مزور‬‫ک‬ ‫اور‬‫ے‬‫ہ‬‫ا‬‫ن‬‫ی‬‫ل‬‫لے‬‫دلہ‬‫ن‬‫ا‬‫ن‬‫پ‬‫ا‬‫و‬‫ت‬‫ور‬‫ی‬‫ق‬‫ظا‬
Nadeem Shoukat
Clinical Psychologist

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