Sociology Plus
VARIABLES and CASES Definition
Variables and cases are fundamental concepts in the methods of social research and epistemology, providing the framework for analysing empirical data. A variable is defined as a superordinate attribute, characteristic, or finding that exists across at least two distinct subordinated categories, such as classes, groups, units of measurement, or values. Cases, typically referring to individuals, can differ or vary according to these variables based on the category they belong to. Variables are thus instrumental in classifying cases; for instance, an individual case can be assigned specific attributes from various variables (e.g., assigning ‘male’ to the variable ‘gender’ or ‘American’ to the variable ‘nationality’).
Application and Classification
This principle allows researchers to allocate all instances of a sample or population to defined variables. For effective classification, the categories assigned to these variables must adhere to two strict conditions: they must be mutually exclusive, meaning any single individual can belong to only one category, and they must be exhaustive, ensuring that every individual is assignable to at least one category. When data is missing for a specific case or variable, this situation is termed missing data or a missing value.
Relations Between Cases
Cases assigned to the identical category are considered equivalent concerning that particular variable. Conversely, if two cases are allocated to different categories, they are regarded as being dissimilar regarding that attribute. This distinction is crucial for understanding differences between entities; for example, while films like Titanic and 10 Things I Hate About You may share a rating (PG 13), they differ significantly concerning the year of release and the number of awards won.