You will now determine the number of levels there are in the problem you are working on.
Your options will be:
Your options will be:
Two Levels
Three or More Levels
Levels mean the number of conditions within an independent variable.
Why are levels important in statistics?
As you will see, the number of levels of the independent variable will determine the type of statistical analysis method we use!
As you will see, the number of levels of the independent variable will determine the type of statistical method you will use!
You will now see illustrations of what we mean by the concept of “levels” or “number of conditions within an independent variable”
Consider the following research question:
A researcher wants to analyze if there are statistically significant differences among religious groups (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) in terms of public religious devotion.
First, let’s identify the dependent and independent variables.
The dependent variable is:
The dependent variable is:
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
The dependent variable is:
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
The independent variable is:
The independent variable is:
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
The independent variable is:
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Now we look for levels or conditions within the independent variable.
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
3 Levels
Three levels
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
Three levels within the independent variable
A researcher wants to analyze which religious group (Catholics, Buddhists, & Muslims) has significantly greater public religious devotion.
So the number of levels would be:
So the number of levels would be:
Two Levels
Three or More Levels
Here is another study
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
What is the dependent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
What is the dependent variable?
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
What is the independent variable?
What is the independent variable?
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
Actually, the independent variable is not stated.
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
But, we can determine the independent variable by looking at the groups.
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
It appears that there are two groups
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
It appears that there are two groups
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
Group 1
It appears that there are two groups
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
Group 2
So what is the difference between these two groups?
So what is the difference between these two groups?
- One group listens to country music
So what is the difference between these two groups?
- One group listens to country music
- The other group does not listen to country music
So what is the difference between these two groups?
- One group listens to country music
- The other group does not listen to country music
An independent variable simply provides a description of these two groups.
So what is the difference between these two groups?
- One group listens to country music
- The other group does not listen to country music
In this case: Country Music Listening
So, let’s go back to the problem
Now we know that the independent variable is country music listening.
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
At this point the levels are easy to see:
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who use country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
At this point the levels are easy to see:
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who listen country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
At this point the levels are easy to see:
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who listen country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
At this point the levels are easy to see:
There is no significant difference between the average hours of drowsiness of a group of truck drivers who listen country music to stay awake and another group of truck drivers who do not listen to country music.
2 Levels
Here is a way to visualize this:
Independent Variable:
Country Music Listening
Independent Variable:
Country Music Listening
Those who listen Those who DON’T listen
2 levels / conditions
So the number of levels would be:
So the number of levels would be:
Two Levels
Three or More Levels
Sometimes there will be two independent variables.
Each independent variable will have it’s own levels.
Let’s see an example:
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
What is the dependent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
What is the dependent variable?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
What are the independent variables (IVs)?
What are the independent variables (IVs)?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
What are the independent variables (IVs)?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?1st IV
What are the independent variables (IVs)?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
2nd IV
What are the Levels?
What are the Levels?
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level 1 = wealthy- level 2 = upper middle class- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level = wealthy- level 2 = upper middle class- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level = wealthy- level = upper middle class- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level = wealthy- level = upper middle class- level = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level = wealthy- level = upper middle class- level = lower middle class- level = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For socio-economic status- level = wealthy- level = upper middle class- level = lower middle class- level = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
4 Levels
For church attendance- level 1 = those who attend- level 2 = those who do not attend- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For church attendance- level = those who attend- level 2 = those who do not attend- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For church attendance- level = those who attend- level = those who do not attend- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
For church attendance- level = those who attend- level = those who do not attend- level 3 = lower middle class- level 4 = below the poverty line
Is there a difference in 8th grade standardized scores based on socio-economic status (wealthy, upper middle class, lower middle class, and below the poverty line) and / or reported church attendance (attender or non attender)?
2 Levels
Let’s see this visually:
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Wealthy
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Upper Middle Class
Wealthy
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Upper Middle Class
WealthyLower
Middle Class
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Upper Middle Class
WealthyBelow
Poverty LineLower
Middle Class
Independent Variable:
Socio-economic Status
Upper Middle Class
WealthyBelow
Poverty LineLower
Middle Class
4 levels
Next Independent Variable:
Independent Variable:
Church Attendance
Non-attender
Independent Variable:
Church Attendance
Independent Variable:
Church Attendance
AttenderNon-attender
Independent Variable:
Church Attendance
AttenderNon-attender
2 levels
So the number of levels would be:
Upper Middle Class
Wealthy Below Poverty Line
Lower Middle Class
Independent Variable:Socio-economic Status
4 levels
Upper Middle Class
Wealthy Below Poverty Line
Lower Middle Class
Independent Variable:Socio-economic Status
4 levels
Upper Middle Class
Wealthy Below Poverty Line
Lower Middle Class
Independent Variable:Socio-economic Status
4 levels
AttenderNon-
attender
Independent Variable:Church Attendance
2 levels
Upper Middle Class
Wealthy Below Poverty Line
Lower Middle Class
Independent Variable:Socio-economic Status
4 levels
AttenderNon-
attender
Independent Variable:Church Attendance
2 levels
6 levels
So the number of levels would be:
Two Levels
Three or More Levels
In Summary:
Levels simply mean the number of conditions within an independent variable.
Here are a number of visual examples
Independent Variable
Socio-economic status
Independent Variable
Levels
Socio-economic status
Wealthy Upper Middle Class
Lower Middle Class
Poverty4 Levels
Socio-economic status
Independent Variable
Country Music Listening
Independent Variable
Levels
Country Music Listening
Those who DO
listen
Those who DON’Tlisten
2 Levels
Country Music Listening
Independent Variable
Religious AffiliationIndependent Variable
Levels
Religious Affiliation
Catholic Muslim Buddhist3 Levels
Religious Affiliation
Independent Variable
Independent Variable
Gender
Levels
Gender
Male Female2 Levels
Gender
How many levels does the problem you are working on have?
How many levels does the problem you are working on have?
Two Levels
Three or More Levels
Top Related