A variable is something that varies (changes in value). It may not be measurable in the normal sense of the word but it must be capable of changing – up and down. For example, the quantity of food my horse eats; the amount of work he does; the condition of my horse; the amount of motivation he has; his acceptance of the bit. These are all variables.
I can measure the quantity of food in a number of ways (weight or in nutritional terms). I can measure the amount of work (quantity and difficulty). I can condition score my horse, weigh him or use a weigh tape. Motivation and acceptance are more difficult to measure objectively but I could measure and monitor it on a subjective scale eg 1 to 10 where 1 means low and 10 means on top of the world.
In contrast “my saddle” or “the weather” are not variables in the Systems Thinking sense of the meaning. They are subjects. However, the “quality of fit of my saddle” is. And the “quality of the weather” is. The weather, whilst being subject to change, is not a specific enough term. We have to ask ourselves what it is about the weather that concerns us. Good examples of weather variables are temperature, or the rainfall or hours of sunshine. These are examples of hard (quantitative) measures of the weather. It is also possible to measure the quality of the weather subjectively on a scale.
Do you understand the difference between a variable and a subject?
Can you think of some examples of riding variables?
Let me get you started: suppleness; straightness; quality of contact; depth of seat; attentiveness; tempo; length of stride; cadence…
Take a look at the FEI dressage rules (1). Can you identify more variables?
Some things take a long period of time to change – they are insensitive. Others change rapidly. Some variables are fixed to all intents and purposes in an individual riding session. Can you think of examples?
A relationship is a cause and effect connection between two variables. For example, I believe that if I increase the quantity of food the condition of my horse will improve, all other things equal, and vice versa. This is a Supporting relationship (the variables move in the same direction). It is depicted as an arrow with an S.
Figure 3 A Supporting relationship
I also believe that if the amount of work increases his condition will go down all other things being equal, and vice versa. This is an Opposing relationship (the variables move in the opposite direction). It is depicted as an arrow with an O.
Figure 4 An Opposing relationship
That is it. There are only 2 kinds of relationships. Note that this says nothing about the size of the effect, the shape of the effect, the timeframe and so on. Only that I believe there is an effect in one of two directions. Capturing relationships between variables enables us to make our mental models explicit.