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3)
Variables
A variable is anything that can take on
differing or varying values.
The values can differ at various times for
the same object or person, or at the same
time for different objects or persons; it
depends on how the researches
operationalized the variables.
Example
Types of variables
1) The dependent variable or criterion variable.
It refers to one or more than one dependent
variable that should be investigated through
understanding, describing and explaining its
variability as a result of external influences
(independent variables); It refers to what
variable influence it.
It is based on numerical measurement (the
variability of sales can be measured, for
instance (by low, medium, or high sales or
continuous scale).
Exercise
An applied researcher wants to increase
the performance of bank employees in a
particular branch. What is the dependent
variable in this case? (Employees
performance is the dependent variable).
The performance of employees may
involve: increase the production units,
decrease the defects items, increasing the
sales volume, and decrease the
absenteeism rateetc.
Exercise
A marketing manager believes that limiting
the availability of a product increases
product desirability.
What is the dependent variable here? The
product desirability.
2) Independent variable
It is refers to the variable (s) (predictor
variables) that have negative or positive
influence (s) on the dependent variables. The
independent variable helps to explain the
variance in the dependent variable.
The following conditions should be met to
say that a change in the independent variable
causes a change in the dependent variable:
1) The independent and the dependent variable
should covary: a change in the dependent
variable should be associated with a change
in the independent variable.
Exercises
List the variables in these two exercises
individually, and label them as dependent or
independent, explaining why they are so
labeled. Create diagrams to illustrate the
relationships.
(1) A manager believes that good supervision
and training will increase the production
level of the workers.
(2) A marketing manager believes that
selecting physically attractive
spokespersons and models to endorse their
products increases the persuasiveness of a
message.
3) Moderating variable
The moderating variable is one that has a
strong contingent effect on the independent
variable-dependent variable relationship.
Moderation occurs when the relationship
between two variable depends on a third
variable; the third variable is referred to as
the moderate variable or simply the
moderator.
It modifies the original relationship between
the independent and the dependent
variables.
Example
4) Mediating variable
A mediating variable (or intervening variable)
is one that surfaces between the time the
independent variables start operating to
influence the dependent variable and the
time their impact is felt on it. It used to
understand the researchs model process.
The mediating variable surfaces as a
function of the independent variable (s)
operating in any situation, and helps to
conceptualize and explain the influence of
the independent variable (s) on the
dependent variable.
Exercises
(2) A manager finds that the intensity of eBusiness adoption is positively associated
with sales performance. What's more, when
market uncertainty (the rate of change in the
composition of customers and their
preferences) is high, this positive effect is
strengthened.
The independent variable (the intensity of eBusiness adoption),
The dependent variable (sales performance),
Moderating variables (the rate of change in
the composition of customers and their
preferences/market fluctuations)
Theoretical framework
1.
2.
3.
A conceptual model
A conceptual model helps you to structure your
discussion of the literature. It describes how the
concepts in your model are related to each other.
It should be based on a sound theory.
A schematic diagram of the conceptual model helps
the reader to visualize the theorized relationships.
The relationships between variables can also be
adequately expressed in words.
Both a schematic diagram of the conceptual model
and a description of the relationships between the
variables in words should be given, so that the
reader can see and easily comprehend the theorized
relationships.
Hypothesis development
Hypothesis development is based on
identifying the important variables in
research model and established the
relationships among them through logical
reasoning obtained from the theoretical
framework.
A hypothesis can be defined as logically
conjectured relationships between two or
more variables expressed in the form of
testable statements. It based on your
conceptual model.
EXERCISE