The variables are the characteristics of individuals within a population. These variables are classified according to different criteria, they can also form part of a theory or a hypothesis in which case they are called constructs, the best known are those variables that arise according to the level of measurement and according to the influence. Statistical variables definition
The statistical variables are an essential part of any scientific study to support or validate observation experiments. These tools are widely used as part of mathematics to analyze data and we will get to know the different types below.
What are statistical variables?
We mentioned that they are characteristics and that they can have different classifications according to them, but it can also be defined as a set or grouping of several values on which a statistical study is carried out.
Types of variables according to the measure
These statistical variables are also classified in this way with respect to the methodology, remembering that the methodological criteria are the elements that the researcher will use to carry out a scientific study. Statistical variables definition
Qualitative variables
Qualitative variables are those that cannot be counted or measured, hair color, the breed of a dog or any other quality that cannot be measured, that is, the values used for a variable of this type can be nouns or adjectives.
These variables, despite not being numbers or measures in the same way, can be used in mathematics, for this, a number value is assigned to said variables, being in the case of dark hair color, for example, value number 1 and for hair color clear numerical value 2.
These variables can also be called categorical variables and they are not classified according to some natural order and the number assigned to them for their classification, as we mentioned before is arbitrary, for example male 3 and female 1. And the order does not have any sequence is measured by nominal form. Statistical variables definition
Regarding the numbers that can be assigned to a qualitative variable, these can be:
Nominal and ordinal qualitative variables
The nominal qualitative variables are not subject to a numbering and for the same reason they do not obey a certain order and can be the color of a certain object, such as a car, a flower or hair, the sex of a group of people or their profession, etc.
The ordinals known as quasi-quantitative are simply those within which an order can be followed as in the case of test scores, which can be approved, within expectations or outstanding, in the same way the places achieved during a competition first, second or third place.
Quantitative variables
They are those variables with a numerical value, those that can be counted as the height or age of a group of people. These variables are very important since when carrying out any scientific investigation the data is not usually only one type, but there is usually within the investigation data such as weight and sex, marital status and age. Statistical variables definition
Discrete quantitative variable
Within the world of mathematics, finance and science, discrete variables are all those that have a number between a finite number of values. That is, an age between 34 and 56 could not obtain an age of 64, since it is not among the assigned values of finite numbers. The numbers obtained are whole numbers, for example the number of children or the number of students in a classroom cannot be determined in 12.5 students or 1.5 children.
Continuous variable
It acquires a fixed value in a certain interval. This type of values takes values throughout a continuity, for this reason continuous variables are usually approximations and are not measured precisely and their value has the particularity of being subject to the instruments with which it is measured, that is, the height of a person or a distance or weight. Statistical variables definition
Variables according to influence
This is another way to classify the variables within the statistics and the following can be identified among them:
Dependent variables
In a scientific experiment there can be more than two dependent variables and these are defined as, generally the dependent and independent variables coexist to develop the experiment as in the case of observing a harvest to determine how many fruits it is bearing according to the temperature, in this case with an independent variable which would be the temperature, several dependent variables are reached.
Independent variables
It can be defined through what its name indicates and are those variables that do not depend on others, in mathematics these variables are represented with an x, in the same way it is the variable that is going to be studied to discover its cause and effect. Statistical variables definition
Examples
Within a question that could be “how does reggaeton affect the mood of young people?” Reggaeton will be the independent variable and the anemic state is the dependent variable.
Are there more variables in statistics?
There are also intervening variables, which can affect or have a direct effect on the dependent variable and can also be called an inherent or disconcerting variant.
These variables are sometimes left out of scientific study. One way to exemplify this important and often overlooked variable is the temperament and enthusiastic character of coaches over players and their influence to win.
Another type of variable that exists in statistics are moderating variables and according to some authors they enter into what are considered independent variables considered secondary, but that can alter these independent variables, such as the effect that the IQ has on the hours of work. study, in questions related to how many hours the subject should study in which the IQ is a moderating variable of the independent variable. Statistical variables definition
Taking into account the different variables will allow you to carry out a scientific study from which you can collect true results.
