Variables, Research Questions, and Data Coding
D1.1 – Compare the terms active independent variable and attribute independent variable.
What are the similarities and differences?
++++++ Variables are defined as a characteristic of the contributors within a specific study where
each has different values. Morgan et al. (2020) describe the two types of independent variables:
active and attribute. Active independent variables are considered a cluster within a specific
period of time during the study that is commonly given to participants of the study. An example
is a new method of learning or a new course of treatment. Unlike active independent variables,
attributed independent variables cannot be manipulated, instead they are measured variables.
These types of variables are pre-existing characteristics of the individuals or the environment
(Morgan et al., 2020). An example is a measurement of age, IQ, or socioeconomic status. Both
types of independent variables include any forecasters, experiences, or presumed influences
within the study.
D1.2 – What kind of independent variable (active or attribute) is necessary to infer cause?
Can one always infer this type of independent variable? If so, why? If not, when can one
infer cause and when might causal interferences be more questionable?
++++++ Morgan et al. (2020) describe the main goal of a quantitative study to identify the
relationship between two variables, in order to demonstrate there must be an interference that
causes a change in the study. Only an active independent variable can provide data that enables
one to infer an independent variable led to a chance in the dependent variable. Unfortunately, it
is not always possible to infer cause with an active independent variable. If there are multiple
manipulations in a pre-existing group it can cause uncertain outcomes, alternatively one can infer
cause when an approach has a randomized experimental and self-styled-experimental active
independent variable.
D1.3 – What is the difference between the independent variable and the dependent
variable?
++++++ A dependent variable measures the effect of the independent variable; it is often
considered the outcome. Common dependent variables include test scores, measures of physical
performance, or questionnaires. Alternatively, independent variables are considered the cause,
and is not influenced by any variables in the study (Morgan et al., 2020).
D1.4 – Compare and contrast associational, difference, and descriptive types of research
questions.
++++++ There are three research questions: associational, difference, and descriptive. All three
types of research questions are utilized in the study to set the general and specific purpose,
establish the type of question or hypothesis, and determine the type of statistic to be applied.
Morgan et al. (2020) divide the three types of research questions into two types of general
purposes, the difference and associational explore the relationship between variables whereas the
descriptive type focuses strictly on description. The associational research question associates
two or more variables. Difference research question compares two or more different groups, that
strive to show the groups are not the same based on the dependent variable (Morgan et al., 2020).
The descriptive type of research is not answered through inferential statistics, instead, it
summarizes the data without simplifying the data to fit a larger population. ++
D1.5 – Write a research question and a corresponding hypothesis regarding variables of
interest to you but not in the HSB dataset. Is it an associational, difference, or descriptive
question?
++++++ Do college graduates with high and low GPAs differ in job performance scores?
Furthermore, will the average performance of a college graduate with a high GPA be
significantly different from the average performance of a college graduate with a low GPA?
++++++ This specific research question would be a difference question since it compares the
scores of two or more different groups and strives to showcase the groups are not the same no the
dependent variable (Morgan et al., 2020).
D1.6 – Using one or more of the following HSB variables, religion, mosaic pattern test, and
visualization score:
5555555Morgan et al. (2020) describe a research problem based on 28,000 high school students
where 75 students are selected in a dataset sample. The data pulled from the 75 students include
grades, test scores, and demographics including religion, ethnic group, and parents' educational
background.
D1.6.a – Write an associational question.
How well does a combination of ethnic group and religion impact test scores?
D1.6.b – Write a difference question.
++++++ Is there a difference between the mosaic pattern test scores and visualization scores of
students who have parents who graduated from college or universities versus those students who
did not have parents who graduated from a college or university?
D1.6.c – Write a descriptive question.
Based on the data collected, what is the range for visualization scores?
