Discussion: Designing and Planning Variables

VARIABLES
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The designing and planning of any given research study should be extremely meticulous and thorough for it to achieve the set of goals or objectives needed. The whole process of research is usually done by the establishment and use of variables. They breathe life into the research study. A variable is any factor or trait that can exist in discrete amounts. Variables parameterize the research process by giving it a dimension. There are three main types of variables, extraneous, independent, and dependent variables. Dependent variables are those variables that are determined by other factors; they are usually what follows the independent variables and will always depend on these variables.
Independent variables are the variables that are not defined by other factors; in fact, they usually set the tone for the rest of the experiment (McLeod, 2019). Any adjustments, be it reduction or increase in the independent variable results also in a subsequent adjustment in the dependent variable. On a mathematical or statistical graph, the independent variable usually takes up the x-axis while the dependent variable takes the y-axis. Extraneous variables are those variables that are not being studied in the experiment or test but affect it anonymously. They usually exist between the independent and dependent variable and hence affect the relationship between the two (McLeod, 2019). They are also called confounding variables.
During a perfect experiment, dependent variables are determined by independent variables. These are the variables the researcher is examining. Nevertheless, other factors may affect the results of the research that the researcher was not aware of; these factors are the extraneous variables. In most cases, these variables have been found to affect dependent variables and alter the correlation between Indepe...