Continuation on How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education by Fraenkel/Wallen and Hyun

Let's hit the book and let's do some practice on note taking skills again! hehe.... this time on Variables!

ok. well there are two types of very common variable

Independent variable also known as predictor also known as variable

Dependent variable also known as criterion variable also known as constant

Quantitative variables usually will assign  numbers to different individuals or objects

It can also be used to describe height and weight (basically it involve numbers!)

Categorical variables will be qualitatively different. (there is no degree)

For examples are eye color, gender, religious preference, occupation, position, treatments or methods.

Independent variable=presumed or possible cause

Independent variables may be manipulated (researcher creates). Also called treatment variables/experimental variables.

Selected =(researcher selects variable that already exist) example gender...it can not be manipulated of course! hihi...

Most studies that have 1 quantitative  and one categorical variable are studies comparing methods  or treatments.

Dependent= presumed results

When it comes to treatments or methods,so, the dependent variable will be called outcome variable

Moderator variables

independent variable (secondary independent variable)\

in order to determine if it affects or modifies  the basic r/ship between the primary independent and dependent variables.

Mediator variable

attempts to explain the relationship between two other variables

Extraneous variables

influence of other variables that exist

should be controlled to minimize the effect

the examples are:-personality of the teacher, experience level of students, time of the day class taught, gender of teachers or students, age of teacher, ethnicity of class, length of class.

one way to control is to hold them constant.

O.k done with variables!

A little bit on hypotheses...

Hypotheses

-prediction of the possible outcomes of the study.

-hypotheses will force us to think more deeply and specifically about the possible outcomes of the study.

-directional hypotheses (specific and decided)

-non directional hypotheses (admit that there will be a difference but not specific)

ok....till then, cya!