Learner Resource 7: What I am comparing?
You may remember from science lessons the concept of a variable. Basically, a variable is something that can vary, and in a piece of research we want
to find out what happens when a particular variable changes. In the case of language investigations, the independent variables could be age, gender,
date, mode, context, audience, purpose, genre. The dependent variable is the language that is used differently because of that factor.
In order to keep your investigation clear and manageable, you should aim to collect data where only one independent variable changes.
For example, if you compared the writing of a five year old girl and a seven year old boy, you couldn’t tell whether the differences were due to age or
gender. Solution: compare two children of the same age OR the same gender but different ages.
What data could you compare to these examples? Try to think of two possibilities for each, and be ready to discuss what you would be investigating in
each case.
Version 1
Setting up the Independent Language Research Project
1
© OCR 2015
Data set 1
Data set 2
Investigation focus / independent variable
A newspaper report of a ship sinking from
1860
A conversation between two 15-year-old girls
discussing boys
The problem page from a men’s fashion
magazine published in 1985
A radio commentary on a premier league
football match
Graham Norton interviewing Snoop Dogg
Look at some of your own investigation ideas and write down what your independent variable would be, if there is one.
Some very open-ended investigations don’t have an IV, because they are basically case studies looking at a single individual, group or example. If this
is the case for you, don’t worry!
Version 1
Setting up the Independent Language Research Project
2
© OCR 2015
OCR Resources: the small print
OCR’s resources are provided to support the teaching of OCR specifications, but in no way constitute an endorsed teaching method that is required by the Board, and the decision to
use them lies with the individual teacher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content, OCR cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions within these
resources.
© OCR 2015 - This resource may be freely copied and distributed, as long as the OCR logo and this message remain intact and OCR is acknowledged as the originator of this work.
OCR acknowledges the use of the following content:
Please get in touch if you want to discuss the accessibility of resources we offer to support delivery of our qualifications: resources.feedback@ocr.org.uk
Version 1
Setting up the Independent Language Research Project
3
© OCR 2015