Which among the following are correct statements about an independent variable?
A. It can have at most two levels.
B. It can have any number of levels.
C. It can be a qualitative variable.
D. It can be a quantitative variable.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
B, C and D only
An independent variable is the factor the researcher deliberately manipulates or classifies in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable. Its "levels" are simply the distinct categories or values it can take in a study. Understanding what an independent variable can be answers each statement.
The statement that it can have any number of levels is correct. A study may compare just two conditions (treatment versus control), or three (low, medium, high dose), or many more; the number is decided by the research design, not by any fixed ceiling.
The statement that it can be a qualitative (categorical) variable is correct. Gender, teaching method, brand, or type of therapy are all valid independent variables even though they are named categories rather than numbers.
The statement that it can be a quantitative variable is also correct. Dosage in milligrams, temperature, hours of study, or age are numeric independent variables.
The statement claiming an independent variable can have at most two levels is false — this is the only wrong statement. Restricting it to two levels would rule out common designs like low/medium/high, so this claim is untrue. That is exactly why the combination limited to at most two levels together with the qualitative claim and the pairing of at most two levels with any-number-of-levels (which are mutually contradictory) both fail, and the all-four option fails because it still includes the false two-level claim.
Only the three genuinely true statements survive, so the answer is B, C and D only.
Similar Questions
In a research problem 'studying the effect of Teaching Methods on the Scholastic Achievement of boys and girls in terms of their socio-economic background'. Which can be designated as independent variable?
A university teacher plans to study the effect of level of aspiration of students in terms of their socio-economic background on their scholastic performance at the term end evaluation conducted by an external testing agency. What is the dependent variable in this study?
A variable that measures the effect of a manipulated variable, is known as:
With what name an attribute like height, weight or happiness that is measurable and that is assigned with changing values be called?
A variable that is manipulated is known as:
A variable that is manipulated is known as:
Important Questions from Variables
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: A discrete variable can represent only finite set of values.
Statement II: A continuous variable can be broken into subparts including fractions.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Match the items of List I with the items of List II and choose the correct answer from the code given below.
List I
List II
(a)
Extraneous variable
(i)
Variables in between cause and effect
(b)
Independent variable
(ii)
Variable to be affected by manipulated variable
(c)
Intervening variable
(iii)
Variable which is manipulated
(d)
Dependent variable
(iv)
Uncontrolled variable having significant effect on unmanipulated variable
The term 'categorical' variables is used for the data measured on
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: Experimental research allows you to eliminate the influence of many extraneous factors.
Reason R: In experimental research variables are actively manipulated and environment is as controlled as possible
In the light of the above statements. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
The question of whether the results of a study can be generalized beyond the specific research context. relates to
