Kumar-2011-Research-Methodology_-A-Step-by-Step-Guide-for-Beginners

Chapter 5
Identifying Variables
In this chapter you will learn about:
• What variables and concepts are and how they are different
• How to turn concepts into operational variables
• Types of variables from the viewpoint of:
– Causation
– The study design
– The unit of measurement
• Types of measurement scales:
– The nominal or classificatory scale
– The ordinal or ranking scale
– The interval scale
– The ratio scale
Keywords: active variables, attribute variables, categorical variables,
causation, constant variables, continuous variables, dependent variables,
dichotomous, extraneous variables, independent variables, interval
scale, intervening variables, measurement scales, nominal scale,
ordinal scale, polytomous, ratio scale, unit of measurement.