DISCUSSION FORUM 1 2
D 1.1 Variables
Variables are described as components that vary in value (Kaliyadan & Kulkarni, 2019).
There are many types of variables and for the purposes of this discussion active independent
variable and attribute independent variable will be compared and contrasted. The primary
similarity of the two variable types is the fact that both are independent variables that weigh
heavily on the outcome of the research. The primary difference between the two variable types is
active independent variables may be manipulated and are administered to a group for a specific
amount of time whereas an attribute independent variable may not be manipulated and is derived
from preexisting attributes of the environment (Morgan et al., 2020).
D 1.2 Inferring Cause
D 1.2.a: What Kind of Independent Variable (Active or Attribute) is Necessary to Infer
Cause?
According to Morgan et al. (2020) active independent variables are the only type that can
reasonably be inferred to have caused change in the dependent variable.
D 1.2.b: Can One Always Infer Cause from this Type of Variable? Why or Why Not?
In research studies that utilize active independent variables one can infer cause when the
dependent variable changes.
D 1.2.c: When are Casual Inferences more Questionable?
Casual inferences are questionable when the study includes attribute independent
variables. According to Morgan et al. (2020) attribute independent variables are incapable of
directly altering dependent variables and used only in non-experimental research.
D 1.3 Dependent v. Independent Variables
DISCUSSION FORUM 1 3
Dependent variables are the objects used to measure the effect of the independent
variable on itself. Dependent variables often include measurement ranges to identify the
causation of the independent variable.
D 1.4 Research Questions Compare/Contrast
According to Morgan et al. (2020) research questions are akin to research hypothesis
withstanding the predictive capacity and come in primarily three forms: associational, difference,
and descriptive. All three pose questions related to a research study and differ in the specific
piece of the study in which they are applied. Difference research questions differ from
associational and descriptive in that their purpose is to identify differences in multiple groups of
the independent variable. Associational research questions differ from difference and descriptive
in that they relate two or more variables in a research study. Descriptive research questions differ
from associational and difference in that they simply describe the data being studied.
D 1.5 Personal Research Question
D 1.5.a: Personal Research Question
How does age stratification in middle-aged to senior workers impact the implementation
of new technology into transformation organizations?
D 1.5.b: Hypothesis
H1: The implementation of new technology into transformation organizations will incur
higher costs and slower implementation times as employee age increases.
D 1.5.c: Type of Research Question
Difference Research Question
D 1.6 HSB Research Questions
D 1.6.a Associational Question
DISCUSSION FORUM 1 4
What relationship correlates between father’s educational background and students
mathematical achievement?
D 1.6.b Difference Question
What is the difference in math achievement scores between students in students that
scored in the first and fourth quartile of the mosaic pattern test?
D 1.6.c Descriptive Question
What is the percentage of students that represent the academic fast track and scored in the
upper fourth quartile of the math achievement test?
DISCUSSION FORUM 1 5
Reference
Kaliyadan, F., & Kulkarni, V. (2019). Types of variables, descriptive statistics, and sample size.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 10(1), 82. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.idoj_468_18
Morgan, G. A., Barrett, K. C., Leech, N. L., & Gloeckner, G. W. (2020). IBM SPSS for
introductory statistics: Use and interpretation (6th ed.). Routledge.
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