Variables Flashcards
Variables
Document the values for the data collected in a study.
What must a variable have to be considered one?
At least two different possible values.
Constant
A singular value
What can the nature of variables do?
Enable/constrain the types of analyses that can be performed.
Nominal Variables
Data categories are…
- Mutually exclusive (only answer 1)
- Have no logical order
What characteristic about nominal variables ONLY applies to nominal variables?
Having no logical order
Do averages make sense for nominal variables?
No: Can only subtract/add the values, cannot multiply/divide
What question from Jamovi is an example of a nomial variable?
“Do you typically eat breakfast on weekdays?”
and/or
“The personality trait that best describes me is..”
Why is this question a nominal variable?
Question: “The personality trait that best describes me is…”
- Only select one answer
- Order of the answer choices do not matter.
What is the main similarity with ordinal, interval, and ratio variables?
All have a meaningful rank order.
Ordinal Variables
Refer to a rank order but does not have equal intervals between question options.
What is an example of an ordinal variable?
The order participants finish a race
- Order is numerical
- Values between places are not equal.
Interval Variables
Have equal intervals but no meaningful zero.
What is an example question of an interval variable?
Taking an IQ test
Why is taking an IQ test considered an interval variable?
There is no true 0
- Getting a score of 0 doesn’t mean you have no intelligence at all
Ratio Variables
Have equal intervals and a meaningful zero
What is an example question of a ratio variable?
“In an average week, how many hours do you spend studying and completing homework?”
