Variables Flashcards
Who are you studying or who you are gathering data about (e.g., individuals, families, social artifacts)?
Unit of Analysis
A variable that is used to control for differences b/c it can distort the impact of the indep (X) variable on the dependent variable (Y)
e.g., Hypothesis: Women are paid less than men.
To hold constant the position the participants hold (e.g., secretary or manager), one could simply compare men/women who are secretaries and then compare men/women who are managers. This is an easy way to control for position.
Control Variable
Variable that acts to change the dependent variable. The variable that is manipulated.
“X impacts Y” /
Hours exercised per week impacts heart health.
X= Hours Exercised
X= Independent Variable
A collapsed ratio level of measurement. e.g., How far do you commute to school? 0 - 5 miles; 6 - 10 miles; 11 - 15 miles; more than 15 miles Please note that the responses are mutually exclusive: there is NO overlap in responses (e.g., this response overlaps: 0-5; 5-10)
Interval
A collection of questions/statements to solicit information (for analysis)
This is the most common way social workers do research: ask people questions.
Questionnaire
Alternate explanations for relationships between indep (X) and dependent variable (Y)
e.g., Hypothesis: Sex impacts pay.
If one does NOT control for whether an employee is willing to relocate or not may influence pay in an unknown way.
Spurious Variable
The level of measurement where one does not know where the interval begins & ends. Where does “disagree” end and “neutral” begin?
e.g., I like my Social Work Research class: Disagree—-Neutral—-Agree.
Ordinal/Rank order
A type of questionnaire where questions are written down and given to respondents to complete.
Self-administered questionnaire
The most accurate level of measurement. One can count, add, subtract, multiply and divide these.
e.g., How far do you commute to school? 2 miles is a ___________level of measurement.
Ratio
_____ are used when variables are too complex or multifaceted to be measured with just 1 item (e.g., depression).
A type of measure made-up of more than 1 question. When taken together these questions measure 1 variable.
Scale
Name the four level of measurements.
Ratio, Interval, Rank, Nominal
The level of measurement that uses names. e.g., marital status, yes/no items, religion
Nominal
How we measure variables. Variables translated into way that is observable/testable.
To operationalize.
Likert scaling is what level of measurement?
e.g., I like ice cream.
Stongly Agree—Agree—Disagree—Strongly Disagree
Ordinal
A type of questionnaire where questions are asked by an interviewer.
Interview Schedule
