Variables
Definition
Variables are characteristics or attributes that can vary among individuals or objects in a study. They are the measurable quantities that researchers collect data on during an experiment or survey.
Analogy
Think of variables as different flavors of ice cream. Each flavor represents a unique characteristic, such as chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. Similarly, variables in statistics represent different aspects or qualities that can be measured and analyzed.
Related terms
Independent Variable: The independent variable is the variable that is intentionally manipulated by researchers to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the variable being measured or observed to determine how it changes in response to variations in the independent variable.
Categorical Variable: A categorical variable is a type of variable that represents qualitative characteristics and can be divided into distinct categories or groups. Examples include gender, eye color, or types of cars.
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