Variations

VARIATIONS (from Latin variatio - difference, change), or variations, variability; this term, along with several derivatives (vary, variant), must be used in several meanings when studying phenomena, due to the absence of strictly corresponding terms in the Russian language. If a certain trait in a group of individuals is not expressed identically (for example, the height of a group of people of the same age), subject to the basic laws of variability or V. (in this case the expressions coincide), then it is said that 'the trait varies,' because the expression 'the trait changes' emphasizes the dynamic nature of phenomena and does not distinguish phenomena in a static state, and expressions such as 'the trait exhibits variability' etc. are somewhat complex. In such cases, the term 'variability' is usually replaced by the term V. (for example, 'the trait varies, and its variation is stronger the more...'). Each individual (or other object) that is part of the group in which the variability of a trait is studied is often called a variant, although this is only permissible when abstracting this individual from all its other traits except the one being studied. In this sense, in a group, B. M. E. t. IV. for example, of people studied with respect to height (stature), one distinguishes the average variant (people of average height) and extreme variants. Among the latter, a person with very great height can be called a plus extreme variant in opposition to the minus extreme variant (very small height). Generally speaking, plus-variants have the trait developed more strongly than in average ones, while minus-variants have it weaker. The mentioned abstraction is necessary because an individual that is a plus-variant with respect to one trait may be an average or minus-variant with respect to another, and vice versa (transgressive variation, meristic variation, etc. - see Variability).