This document discusses variables and scaling techniques in educational research. It defines a variable as anything that can take on different values. Variables can be quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative variables are numeric measurements and can be discrete or continuous. Qualitative variables are non-numeric categories and can be nominal or ordinal. The document also discusses types of variables involved in experimental research like independent, dependent, confounding, intervening, and extraneous variables. It explains different measurement scales like nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales and their properties. Nominal scales use numbers for identification only while ordinal scales allow ranking. Interval and ratio scales have equal intervals between numbers and ratio scales also have an absolute zero point. The key to selecting appropriate variables and scales
Educational Research : Meaning and ScoreSahin Sahari
Meaning of Educational Research
According to Mouly, -
Educational Research is the systematic application of scientific method for solving educational problem.
Travers thinks, -
Educational Research is the activity for developing science of behavior in educational situations. It allows the educator to achieve his goals effectively.
According to Whitney, -
Educational Research aims at finding out solution of educational problems by using scientific philosophical method.
So Educational Research is-
- Process of Generating the New Knowledge
- To Solve the Educational Problems
- Which is Purposeful, Precise, Objective, Scientific and Systematic
- Through Organize the data Quantitatively and Qualitatively
- which depends on the Researchers Ability, Ingenuity and Experience
Scope of Educational Research
Being scientific study of Educational Process, it involves :
- Biotic Elements of Education (Student, teachers, educational managers, parents, etc.)
- Non-Biotic Elements of education (Schools, colleges, research institutes, curriculum etc.)
Educational Research : Meaning and ScoreSahin Sahari
Meaning of Educational Research
According to Mouly, -
Educational Research is the systematic application of scientific method for solving educational problem.
Travers thinks, -
Educational Research is the activity for developing science of behavior in educational situations. It allows the educator to achieve his goals effectively.
According to Whitney, -
Educational Research aims at finding out solution of educational problems by using scientific philosophical method.
So Educational Research is-
- Process of Generating the New Knowledge
- To Solve the Educational Problems
- Which is Purposeful, Precise, Objective, Scientific and Systematic
- Through Organize the data Quantitatively and Qualitatively
- which depends on the Researchers Ability, Ingenuity and Experience
Scope of Educational Research
Being scientific study of Educational Process, it involves :
- Biotic Elements of Education (Student, teachers, educational managers, parents, etc.)
- Non-Biotic Elements of education (Schools, colleges, research institutes, curriculum etc.)
Meaning, definitions & need of educational research.Neha Deo
To understand the meaning & nature of research, one must study the different definitions of research. In this presentation, definitions of research & educational research are given. From the definitions important characteristics of the research are listed & need of the educational research is also given.
Universalization of Secondary Education in Indiarajib saha
The issue of universalization of secondary education in India has been discussed mainly with the details of RMSA or Rasthriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan. it is useful enough for the students of education discipline to know the history and present status of secondary education in India.
Normal provability curve is one of the important topic in the Educational research.The theory of parametric tests in the inferential statistics is completely based on the NPC. Every researcher must know the characteristics of the NPC.
Vedanta Philosophy
Chief Founder - Badarayana
Others Exponents - Sankara, Ballava, Nimbarka, Ramanuja etc.
Beginning Time - 1500 BCE
Focus - The essence of the Vedas
Type of School - Orthodox (Astika)
Source Book Badarayana’s- Vedanta Sutra
Sub schools of Vedanta- Advaita of Sankara, Visistadvaita of Ramanuja and Dvaita of Madhva and many more.
It is also known as Uttara Mimansa
Metaphysics of Vedanta
Vedata spoke of One Reality (ekam sat) which is spoken of in various ways by the sages.
It spoke of That One (tad ekam) that created the world. The Upanishads called it Brahman.
Brahman is the Reality of the reality. It is the cause of all created things
Brahman is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the world.
All creatures spring out of Brahman. They live in Brahman and are reabsorbed in Brahman.
Brahman is the cosmic principle, atman is the psychic principle. It is the inner self in man
It implies that creation is self-expression and self communication of God to the creatures.
Creation is a moral act of willing and self-sacrifice of Brahman.
Epistemology of Vedanta
Vedanta Philosophy divided knowledge into two parts
-Apara (Temporal or practical): The knowledge of different phases of this material world and human life
-Para (spiritual): Ved, Brhmana, Aranayak And Metaphysics Of Geeta are Para knowledge.
To gain both of these knowledge Shankar has encouraged the method of
-Sharvana (Listening)
-Manan (Rumination)
-Nidhidyasana (Contemplation)
Axiology of Vedanta
Vedanta accepts the distinction made by the Kathopanishad between happiness (Preyas) and the highest good (Sreyas).
The highest Good is the realization of the eternal universal self in man. Vidya leads to self-realization.
Atman can be realized by one who does practice self-control, desirelessness, and concentration of mind.
Karma is not excluded from moral life.
Prescribed actions should be performed without any desire or motive.
Karma purifies the mind; however it is only a preliminary step to self-knowledge.
This presentation is about the objectivity of tests, It presents the definition of objective tests, and its meaning.
It reflects upon the objectivity of scoring, types of objective tests, merits and demerits about the same.
It is a measure of student acquisition of skills or knowledge following.
Not a measure of potential to learn, or ability to learn.
Not a measure of whether the student is performing appropriately
Achievement test, Concept & Definition of Achievement test, Characteristics o...Learning Time
The type of ability test that describes what a person has learned to do is called an achievement test. Different kinds of tests, Achievement test, Concept & Definition of Achievement test, Characteristics of a good Achievement test, Classification of Achievement tests, Uses of Achievement tests
Meaning, definitions & need of educational research.Neha Deo
To understand the meaning & nature of research, one must study the different definitions of research. In this presentation, definitions of research & educational research are given. From the definitions important characteristics of the research are listed & need of the educational research is also given.
Universalization of Secondary Education in Indiarajib saha
The issue of universalization of secondary education in India has been discussed mainly with the details of RMSA or Rasthriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan. it is useful enough for the students of education discipline to know the history and present status of secondary education in India.
Normal provability curve is one of the important topic in the Educational research.The theory of parametric tests in the inferential statistics is completely based on the NPC. Every researcher must know the characteristics of the NPC.
Vedanta Philosophy
Chief Founder - Badarayana
Others Exponents - Sankara, Ballava, Nimbarka, Ramanuja etc.
Beginning Time - 1500 BCE
Focus - The essence of the Vedas
Type of School - Orthodox (Astika)
Source Book Badarayana’s- Vedanta Sutra
Sub schools of Vedanta- Advaita of Sankara, Visistadvaita of Ramanuja and Dvaita of Madhva and many more.
It is also known as Uttara Mimansa
Metaphysics of Vedanta
Vedata spoke of One Reality (ekam sat) which is spoken of in various ways by the sages.
It spoke of That One (tad ekam) that created the world. The Upanishads called it Brahman.
Brahman is the Reality of the reality. It is the cause of all created things
Brahman is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the world.
All creatures spring out of Brahman. They live in Brahman and are reabsorbed in Brahman.
Brahman is the cosmic principle, atman is the psychic principle. It is the inner self in man
It implies that creation is self-expression and self communication of God to the creatures.
Creation is a moral act of willing and self-sacrifice of Brahman.
Epistemology of Vedanta
Vedanta Philosophy divided knowledge into two parts
-Apara (Temporal or practical): The knowledge of different phases of this material world and human life
-Para (spiritual): Ved, Brhmana, Aranayak And Metaphysics Of Geeta are Para knowledge.
To gain both of these knowledge Shankar has encouraged the method of
-Sharvana (Listening)
-Manan (Rumination)
-Nidhidyasana (Contemplation)
Axiology of Vedanta
Vedanta accepts the distinction made by the Kathopanishad between happiness (Preyas) and the highest good (Sreyas).
The highest Good is the realization of the eternal universal self in man. Vidya leads to self-realization.
Atman can be realized by one who does practice self-control, desirelessness, and concentration of mind.
Karma is not excluded from moral life.
Prescribed actions should be performed without any desire or motive.
Karma purifies the mind; however it is only a preliminary step to self-knowledge.
This presentation is about the objectivity of tests, It presents the definition of objective tests, and its meaning.
It reflects upon the objectivity of scoring, types of objective tests, merits and demerits about the same.
It is a measure of student acquisition of skills or knowledge following.
Not a measure of potential to learn, or ability to learn.
Not a measure of whether the student is performing appropriately
Achievement test, Concept & Definition of Achievement test, Characteristics o...Learning Time
The type of ability test that describes what a person has learned to do is called an achievement test. Different kinds of tests, Achievement test, Concept & Definition of Achievement test, Characteristics of a good Achievement test, Classification of Achievement tests, Uses of Achievement tests
These slides discuss about the concept and definition of variables, variables in research, operationalisation, types and functions of variables and measurement scales.
This lecture will help Research scholars at the starting of their research issues regarding definitions of variables, what is theory and creating a sapling map..
Educational Technology and Assessment of LearningRacelLove
It focuses on the development and utilization of assessment tools to improve the teaching-learning process. It emphasizes the use of testing for measuring knowledge, comprehension, and other thinking skills. It allows the students to go through the standard steps in the test constitution for quality assessment. Students will experience how to develop rubrics for performance-based and portfolio assessment.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
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UNIT-IV: VARIABLES AND SCALING TECHNIQUES
Variables- Meaning, Types- Method of selecting variable , Scale Measurement, Scaling,
properties- Types of Scales : Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Scales.
A variable is any entity that can take on different values. OK, so what does that mean?
Anything that can vary can be considered a variable. For instance, age can be considered a variable
because age can take different values for different people or for the same person at different times.
Similarly, country can be considered a variable because a person’s country can be assigned a value.
Variables aren’t always ‘quantitative’ or numerical. The variable city consists of text values
like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai etc., We can also assign quantitative values instead of the text
values, but we don’t have to assign numbers in order for something to be a variable. It’s also
important to realize that variables aren’t only things that we measure in the traditional sense.
An attribute is a specific value on a variable. For instance, the variable Student grade has
two attributes: pass and fail. Or, the variable agreement might be defined as having five attributes:
1 = strongly disagree
2 = disagree
3 = neutral
4 = agree
5 = strongly agree
Types of Variables
Variables can be classified as quantitative or qualitative or categorical variable.
Quantitative variable
A variable that contains quantitative data is a quantitative variable. Quantitative variables are
numeric and represent some kind of measurement. They represent a measurable quantity.
Examples: height, weight, time, number of items sold, number of programs attended etc.,
Quantitative variables are divided into two types: discrete and continuous.
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Quantitative - Discrete
Quantitative discrete variables are variables for which the values it can take are countable and have
a finite number of possibilities. The values are often (but not always) integers. Here are some
examples of discrete variables:
Number of children in a family
Number of students in a class
Number of citizens of a country
Even if it would take a long time to count the citizens of a large country, it is still technically
possible. Moreover, for all examples, the number of possibilities is finite.
Quantitative - Continuous
On the other hand, quantitative continuous variables are variables for which the values are not
countable and have an infinite number of possibilities. For example:
Age
Weight
Height
For simplicity, we usually referred to years, kilograms (or pounds) and centimeters (or feet and
inches) for age, weight and height respectively.
Qualitative Variable or Categorical Variable
Variables that are not measurement variables. Their values do not result from measuring or
counting. Qualitative variables (also referred as categorical variables or factors in R) are variables
that are not numerical and which values fits into categories.
Examples: hair color, religion, political party, profession
Qualitative variables are divided into two types: nominal and ordinal.
Qualitative - Nominal
A qualitative nominal variable is a qualitative variable where no ordering is possible or implied in
the levels. For example, the variable gender is nominal because there is no order in the levels
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female/male. Eye color is another example of a nominal variable because there is no order among
blue, brown or green eyes. A nominal variable can have between two levels (e.g., do you smoke?
Yes/No or what is your gender? Female/Male).
Qualitative - Ordinal
On the other hand, a qualitative ordinal variable is a qualitative variable with an order implied in
the levels. For instance, if the severity of road accidents has been measured on a scale such as light,
moderate and fatal accidents, this variable is a qualitative ordinal variable because there is a clear
order in the levels.
Another good example is health, which can take values such as poor, reasonable, good, or
excellent. There is clear order in these levels so health is in this case a qualitative ordinal variable.
Variables involved in an Experimental Research
Another important distinction having to do with the term ‘variable’ is the distinction between an
independent and dependent variable. This distinction is particularly relevant when you are
investigating cause-effect relationships. Experiments are usually designed to find out what effect
one variable has on another.
Independent variable and Dependent Variable
In an experiment, the investigator manipulate the independent variable (the one you think might
be the cause) and then measure the dependent variable (the one you think might be the effect) to
find out what this effect might be.
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For example: The effect of Computer Assisted Instruction in enhancing the academic performance
of students.
In the above experiment the treatment ie. Computer Assisted Instruction is the independent
variable and the academic performance of students is the dependent variable.
Confounding Variables
Confounding variable is an unmeasured third variable that influences both the supposed cause and
the supposed effect. Factors that might influence the dependent variable (outcome measure) and
whose effect may be confused with the effects of the independent variable are called as
confounding variable.
Intervening variables
Certain variables that cannot be controlled or measured directly may have an important
effect on the outcome. These variables intervene between the cause and effect and are called as
intervening variables. (Eg. anxiety, fatigue, motivation) These variables can be controlled by using
proper experimental designs.
Extraneous variables
Those uncontrolled variables that may have significant influence on the results of the study.
(Eg. teacher enthusiasm, age, socio economic status)
Method of Selecting the Variables
Variable selection means choosing among many variables which to include in a particular model,
that is, to select appropriate variables from a complete list of variables by removing those that are
irrelevant or redundant. The purpose of such selection is to determine a set of variables that will
provide the best fit for the model so that accurate predictions can be made. Variable selection is
one of the most difficult aspects of research. It is often advised that variable selection should be
more focused on conceptual knowledge and previous literature than statistical selection methods
alone.
However, remember that especially for complex variables, measurement may always be
incomplete or inaccurate because you may not be able to find a variable that captures all aspects
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of a concept completely. Therefore, your goal should be to select the best possible variables to
describe the concept. As suggested earlier, a good way to make sure you select the most appropriate
variables is to review studies similar to yours, and check if the variables used would be appropriate
or applicable to your study. If it is not possible to find appropriate variables in the literature, you
may want to conduct some pretests to make sure the measures you have selected are appropriate.
You could also use different measures of a concept to check how the results differ. For example,
instead of using only “income levels’ to operationalize the concept of socioeconomic status, you
could also use “educational levels” or “ownership of different assets” in a single study to see how
these multiple measures influence your findings.
Measurement
Measurement is the process of observing and recording the observations that are collected as part
of research. The recording of the observations may be in terms of numbers or other symbols to
characteristics of objects according to certain prescribed rules. The respondent’s characteristics
are feelings, attitudes, opinions etc. The most important aspect of measurement is the specification
of rules for assigning numbers to characteristics. The rules for assigning numbers should be
standardized and applied uniformly. This must not change over time or objects.
Scaling
Scaling is the assignment of objects to numbers according to a rule. In scaling, the objects are text
statements, usually statements of attitude, opinion, or feeling.
Measurement Scales
Measurement scales are used to categorize and/or quantify variables. A common feature of
research is the attempt to have respondents communicate their feelings, attitudes, opinions, and
evaluations in some measurable form. Hence researchers have developed a range of scales. Each
of these scales have unique properties. The researcher should realize that they have widely
differing measurement properties. Some scales are at very best, limited in their mathematical
properties to the extent that they can only establish an association between variables. Other scales
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have more extensive mathematical properties and some have the possibility of establishing cause
and effect relationships between variables.
Properties of Measurement Scales or Scaling Properties
The properties of the abstract number system that are relevant to scales of measurement are
identity, magnitude, equal interval, and absolute/true zero.
Identity: Identification refers to assignment of a number to respondents’ response, and these
number are just for the sake of identification and the numbers itself cannot be used in mathematical
operations thus numbers assigned are just to convery a particular meaning. E.g. Assigning 1 to
Male, 2 to Female.
Magnitude: Numbers can have an inherent order from smaller to larger. For instance Position in
Class or Rank in Organization. Here the values of the variable have numbers for identification but
also the values have some order. E.g. difference of Marks between 1st and 2nd could be 30 whereas
difference between 2nd and 3rd could be of 50 marks, meaning on the continuum the difference is
not the same.
Equal Intervals: It means that difference between numbers anywhere on the scale are the same.
E.g. take the variable Position, it is measured on Ordinal Scale but not on Interval Scale because
the distance between 1st and 2nd position may well not be the same as 2nd and 3rd, or 3rd and 4th.
Here the distance refers to the Marks obtained by the position holders. Likert Scale is an example
for equal interval scale.
Absolute/true zero: It means that the zero as a response represents the absence of the property
being measured (e.g., no money, no behavior, none correct) but temperature on 0 is not absolute
zero as it still has some effect and we cannot say no temperature.
Types of Scales
There are 4 scales of measurement, namely Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio, all variables fall
in one of these scales. Understanding the mathematical properties and assigning proper scale to
the variables is important because they determine which mathematical operations are allowed and
determines the statistical operations that can be used.
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1. Nominal Scale: It is the crudest among all measurement scales but it is also the simplest
scale. In this scale the different scores on a measurement simply indicate different
categories. It does not have magnitude, equal intervals and absolute zero. The nominal
scale does not express any values or relationships between variables. The nominal scale is
often referred to as a categorical scale. The assigned numbers have no arithmetic properties
and act only as labels. Nominal variables are the most basic level of measurement. These
are variables that have two or more mutually exclusive and exhaustive categories.
However, these categories cannot be ordered or ranked. An example of this type of variable
would be the states of India. Thus, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra are all
states of India, but they do not have an intrinsic ranking order. You would have to apply
some rule in order to rank them. Similarly, “gender” is also a nominal variable –
male/female/ third gender are the three categories within this variable, but they cannot be
ranked – they can only be compared. The only statistical operation that can be performed
on nominal scales is a frequency count. We cannot determine an average except mode. For
example: labeling men as ‘1’ and women as ‘2’ which is the most common way of labeling
gender for data recording purpose does not mean women are ‘twice something or other’
than men. Nor it suggests that men are somehow ‘better’ than women.
2. Ordinal Scale: It involves the ranking of items along the continuum of the characteristic
being scaled. In this scale, the items are classified according to whether they have more or
less of a characteristic. It has magnitude but does not have equal intervals and absolute
zero. The main characteristic of the ordinal scale is that the categories have a logical or
ordered relationship. This type of scale permits the measurement of degrees of difference,
(i.e. ‘more’ or ‘less’) but not the specific amount of differences (i.e. how much ‘more’ or
‘less’). Ordinal variables are also variables that have two or more categories, but they are
different from nominal variables because they can be ranked, and ranks are used to
determine the differences between the categories. However, while we can rank them, they
do not carry a numerical value. They can only measure how one value is greater or lesser
than another value. An example may be asking someone how often he or she watch movies
on television – their response options are Very often, Frequently, Sometimes or Never.
From his or her responses, we will know that someone who responds “frequently” watches
movie more often than someone who responds “sometimes.” However, none of these
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responses has a numerical value, so we cannot assess what is the numerical distance
between “frequently” and “sometimes.” Using ordinal scale data, we can perform statistical
analysis like Median and Mode, but not the Mean. For example, a fast food home delivery
shop may wish to ask its customers:
How would you rate the service of our staff? (1) Excellent • (2) Very Good • (3) Good •
(4) Poor • (5) Worst •
3. Interval Scale: It is a scale in which the numbers are used to rank attributes such that
numerically equal distances on the scale represent equal distance in the characteristic being
measured. An interval scale contains all the information of an ordinal scale, but it also one
allows to compare the difference/distance between attributes. Interval scales may be either
in numeric or semantic formats. It has magnitude and equal intervals but no absolute zero.
Interval variables are variables that have a numerical value, and are measured on a
continuum. The most common example of this type of variable is the temperature when
measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit. We know that temperature is measured on a continuum
on thermometer. Therefore, we know that the difference between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius
is the same interval value (10 degrees) as 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Test scores on an IQ
test is another example of an interval variable. The interval scales allow the calculation of
averages like Mean, Median and Mode and dispersion like Range and Standard Deviation.
For example, the difference between ‘1’ and ‘2’ is equal to the difference between ‘3’ and
‘4’. Further, the difference between ‘2’ and ‘4’ is twice the difference between ‘1’ and ‘2’.
4. Ratio Scale: It is the highest level of measurement scales. This has the properties of an
interval scale together with a fixed (absolute) zero point. The absolute zero point allows us
to construct a meaningful ratio. It has all the three properties such as magnitude, equal
intervals and absolute zero. Ratio scales permit the researcher to compare both differences
in scores and relative magnitude of scores. Examples of ratio scales include weights,
lengths and times. For example, the difference between 10 and 15 minutes is the same as
the difference between 25 and 30 minutes and 30 minutes is twice as long as 15 minutes.