Final answer:
The term 'variable' refers to an attribute that can change or vary among individuals, and 'something whose value can change over multiple measurements' is the correct option to represent a variable. Variables can be numerical or categorical and are measured at different levels, including nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.
Step-by-step explanation:
The result is rated on a scale that measures the degree of conformity. Which of the following options represents a variable? Option b) something whose value can change over multiple measurements is the correct choice. A variable is a characteristic or measurement that can be determined for each member of a population and can vary from one individual to another. Examples of variables include numerical variables, such as weight in pounds (represented by X), which take on values with equal units and can be used in calculations such as determining the average weight. On the other hand, categorical variables, such as party affiliation (represented by Y), place individuals into categories, such as Republican, Democrat, or Independent, and do not lend themselves to mathematical operations like averaging.
Data can be measured at different levels: nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio. High school soccer players classified by their athletic ability (superior, average, above average) is an example of an ordinal scale level because it involves ordered categories. The colors of crayons in a 24-crayon box are an example of nominal scale level data, which is qualitative and not ordered.
Thus, when faced with a question asking to identify a variable, the best course is to look for an option that indicates an attribute that can change or vary among the subjects being measured or observed.