Course: Research Methods
An attribute of a variable is a specific value that the variable can take.
Understanding Attributes
Picture a variable as a category or characteristic we are interested in studying. It’s something that can vary or change. The attributes are the specific forms or values that the variable can take. They are the unique categories or levels within a variable.
For instance, let’s consider the variable “color.” The attributes could be “red,” “blue,” and “green.” These are the specific forms or values that the variable “color” can take.
Variable and Attribute in Social Research
In the world of social research, variables are vital. They allow us to measure, compare, and analyze various aspects of our study. The attributes of a variable further refine this, allowing for more detailed and nuanced research.
For example, in a political science study examining voters’ party preference, the variable would be “Party Preference.” The attributes of this variable might be “Democratic,” “Republican,” and “Independent.”
Attributes in Different Fields
Criminal Justice
In a criminal justice study examining types of crime, the variable could be “Type of Crime.” The levels of this variable might include “burglary,” “assault,” and “fraud.” Each attribute is a specific form that the “Type of Crime” variable can take.
Social Work
A social worker might study a client’s well-being with a variable like “Life Satisfaction.” The levels might be “very dissatisfied,” “somewhat dissatisfied,” “neutral,” “somewhat satisfied,” and “very satisfied.” Here, each attribute represents a different level of life satisfaction.
Political Science
In political science, a common variable might be “Voter Turnout” with levels such as “voted in the last election,” “did not vote in the last election,” and “not eligible to vote.”
Importance of Attributes
Attributes are critical in social research because they allow us to measure and compare different levels or categories of a variable. They give depth and detail to our studies, allowing us to distinguish between different categories within a variable.
Without these, we would only have broad variables without specific forms. It would be like knowing you’re having soup for dinner but not knowing what kind of soup. With them, you’ll know if it’s tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, or vegetable soup.
Wrapping Up
When we delve into social research, the concept of variables and their attributes becomes a valuable tool. They allow us to break down large, complex concepts into manageable, measurable pieces. Understanding this concept gives us a more precise picture, making our research richer, more detailed, and more accurate.