In research, a variable is a quantity that can take on different values. A discrete variable is a type of variable that takes on distinct, countable values. Examples of discrete variables include the number of goals made in a soccer match, the number of red M&Ms in a candy jar, and the number of times a coin lands on heads after ten coin tosses. Discrete variables are numeric variables that have a countable number of values between any two values. They can only assume specific values that you cannot subdivide, and the results are integers. Discrete variables are different from continuous variables, which represent uncountable, infinite data, usually as measurements. It is important to recognize the difference between discrete and continuous variables because there are different ways to graph and analyze them.