Introduction to Types of Variables in Statistics Such variables in statistics are broadly divided into four categories such as independent variables, dependent variables, categorical and continuous variables. Apart from these, quantitative and qualitative variables hold data as nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio.

It is ordinal, because the order matters. It is also interval, because the difference between 1 and 2 is the same as that between 20 and 21 – exactly, unambiguously 1 headache. It is also a “ratio” variable, because the value of zero reflects the complete absence of the thing being measured.

This is also an easy one to remember, ordinal sounds like order. Interval data is like ordinal except we can say the intervals between each value are equally split. Ratio data is interval data with a natural zero point. For example, time is ratio since 0 time is meaningful.

Ordinal data is a type of categorical data with an order. The variables in ordinal data are listed in an ordered manner. The ordinal variables are usually numbered, so as to indicate the order of the list. However, the numbers are not mathematically measured or determined but are merely assigned as labels for opinions.

ordinal cyclic variables

A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure in some way. The best way to understand the difference between a dependent and independent variable is that the meaning of each is implied by what the words tell us about the variable you are using.

A dependent variable is the variable being tested in a scientific experiment. The dependent variable is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the change in the dependent variable is observed and recorded.

The independent variable is the affection. The dependent variable is the reaction of the rats. A scientist studies how many days people can eat soup until they get sick. The independent variable is the number of days of consuming soup.

The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable.

An independent variable is the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. A dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment. You just studied 2 terms!

Independent Variable. The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. Factors that are deliberately changed and effect the dependent variable. Dependent Variable. A change in the independent variable will result in a change in this.

What is the difference between independent variables and dependent variables in spreadsheets? Independent variables are the values entered into formulas, while dependent variables are the calculations made by formulas. Independent variables are usually numbers, while dependent variables are usually text.