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variable

Definitions of Variable

  1. (noun) A set of attributes or values.
  2. (noun) Any characteristic, number, or quantity that can vary among a sample or population that can be measured.
  3. (noun) A symbol like X or Y that represents a measurable characteristic.

Types of Variable

Variable Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: var·i·a·ble

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /vAIR-ee-uh-buhl/
  • British English – /vEUH-riuh-buhl/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /ˈvɛriəbəl/
  • British English – /ˈvɛːrɪəb(ə)l/

Usage Notes

  • Plural: variables
  • A variable is either categorical or numerical.
  • A variable is contrasted with a constant, which is a characteristic or value that does not change.
  • A variable must be observable and measurable to be studied, this is achieved through operationalization.
  • Also called variable quantity.
  • Variables are (adjective) variable and vary (adverb) variably by exhibiting (noun) variableness and (noun) variability.

Related Quotations

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Additional Information

Related Terms

Contributor: C. E. Seaman


References

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Cite the Definition of Variable

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Seaman, C. E. 2015. “variable.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary, edited by Kenton Bell. Retrieved March 19, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/variable/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

Seaman, C. E. (2015). variable. In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/variable/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Seaman, C. E. 2015. “variable.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary, edited by Kenton Bell. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/variable/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

Seaman, C. E. “variable.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/variable/>.