TYPES OF DATA

GROUP 2
 OBJECTIVE
• To categorize and differentiate between the four
main types of data in statistics (nominal, ordinal,
interval, and ratio) , and to classify them further
into qualitative (categorical) and quantitative
(numerical) data based on their characteristics and
measurability.
 QUALITATIVE DATA
• Describes information using categories, labels, or
qualities. It is non- numerical and cannot be
analyzed using mathematical operations
• Two types of qualitative data are Nominal Data (used
for naming, gender, colors, or phone numbers) and
Ordinal Data (used for ranking or odering)
EXAMPLE OF QUALITATIVE DATA

• Dairy accounts- participants record diary entries about their

activities or experiences and send these back to the researcher
over a period of time.
• Case Study- studies or investigations of a particular person, or
group of people
• Recordings- can include footage or audio taken from in depth
interviews, focus groups, or observational studies
 QUANTITATIVE DATA
• represents information using numbers that can be
counted or measured. It is numerical and allows
mathematical operations like addition, subrtaction,
averages, or percentages.
• Two types of Quantitative data are Discrete Data
(countable numbers, such as number of students,
number of cars, or number of books) and
Continuous Data (measurable values with
decimals, such as height, weight, time, or
temperature).
SCALES OF MEASUREMENT
• also known as levels of measurement, are classification
that describe the nature of information within the values
assigned to variables.
• they determine th type of mathematical operations that
can be performed on the data and the kinds of
conclusions that can be drawn.
• The four main scales are nominal, ordinal, interval, and
ratio
NOMINAL SCALE
• the 1st level of measurement scale in
which the numbers serve as “tags” or
“labels” to classify or identify the objects.
• Nominal scale usually deals with the non-
numeric variables or the numbers that do
not have any value.
ex. gender (M- Male, or F- Female)
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
NOMINAL SCALE
• A nominal scale variable is classified into two or more
categories. In this measurement mechanism, the answer
should fall into either of the classes.
• It is qualitative. The numbers are used here to identify the
objects.
• The numbers don’t define the object characteristics. The only
permissible aspect of numbers in the nominal scale is
“counting.”
 ORDINAL SCALES
• the 2nd level of measurement that reports the
ordering and ranking of data without
establishing the degree of variation between
them.
• Ordinal represents the “order” that is known as
qualitative data or categorical data.
ex. ranking of school students, ratings in
restaurants, evaluating the frequency of
occurrences, assessing the degree of agreement
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
ORDINAL SCALE
• The ordinal scale shows the relative ranking of
the variables
• It identifies and describes the magnitude of a
variable
• Along with the information provided by the
nominal scale, ordinal scales give the
rankings of those variables
• The interval properties are not known
 INTERVAL SCALE
• the 3rd level of measurement
scale
• the variables are measured in an
exact manner, not as in a
relative way in which the
presence of zero is arbitrary.
ex. Likert Scale, Net Promoter
Score (NPS), Bipolar Matrix Table
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
INTERVAL SCALE
• The interval scale is quantitative as it can quantify the
difference between the values
• It allows calculating the mean and median of the variables
• To understand the difference between the variables, you
can subtract the values between the variables
• The interval scale is the preferred scale in Statistics as it
helps to assign any numerical values to arbitrary
assessment such as feelings, calendar types, etc.
 RATIO SCALE
• the 4th level of measurement
scale, which is quantitative
• the ratio scale has a unique
feature that possesses the
character of the origin or zero
points.
ex. weight in kgs
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RATIO
SCALE
• Ratio scale has a feature of absolute zero
• It doesn't have negative numbers
• The variables can be orderly added,
subtracted, multiplied, divided. Mean, median,
mode can be calculated using the ratio scale
• Has unique and useful properties. It allows
unit conversion like kilogram- calories, gram-
calories, etc.
 TYPES OF
VARIABLE
• NOMINAL VARIABLE
ACCORDING TO • ORDINAL VARIABLE
THE LEVEL OF • INTERVAL VARIABLE
• RATIO VARIABLE
MEASUREMENT
 NOMINAL VARIABLES
• are categories without any intrinsic ranking or order. They are
used for labeling or naming purposes.
• as to properties, nominal variable has no mathematical
operations can be performed on nominal data, and there is no
order or ranking between cateoris.

ex. Gender (male or female), Colors (red, blue, green), or

types of cuisine (Italian, Mexican, Chinese)
 ORDINAL VARIABLES
• represent categories with a natural order or ranking, but the
intervals between the ranks are not necessarily equal.
• as to properties, the differences between values are not
quantifiable or consistent.

ex. Educational level (high school, undergraduate,

graduate), Satisfaction Ratings (unsatisfied, neutral, satisfied), or
rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
 INTERVAL VARIABLES
• are measured on a scale where the differences between values
are meaningful and equal, but there is no true zero point.
• as to properties, addition and subtraction are meaningful
operations, but multiplication and division are not because
there is no true zero.

ex. Temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, IQ scores, or dates

on a calendar.
 RATIO VARIABLES
• have all the properties of interval variables, buy they also have
true zero point, which allows for meaningful ratios and
comparisons.
• as to properties, all mathematical operations (addition,
subtractionsubtraction, multiplication, and division) are valid,
and ratios between values are meaningful (e.g., one value can
be twice another)
ex. Height, Weight, age, income, or distance
 TYPES OF
VARIABLES
ACCORDING TO • Continuous
CONTINUITY OF • Discrete
SCALES
CONTINUOUS VARIABLE
• variables that can take on any value within a given range.
These variables are not restricted to specific separate values
but can include fractions and decimals.
ex. Height: A person's height can be any value within a
certain range (e.g., 1.50 meters, 1.75 meters, 1.825 meters)
Temperature: The temperature of a room can be any
value within a range (e.g., 20.5°C, 22.75°C )
Time: The time it takes to complete a task can be
measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 10.25seconds, 15.5
seconds)
 DISCRETE VARIABLE
• variables that can only take on specific, separate values. These
variables are usually whole numbers and cannot be expressed
as fractions or decimals.
ex. Number of Children: A family can have 1, 2, 3, or more
children, buy no 2.5 children.
Number of Cars: The number of cars in a parking lot
can only be a whole number (e.g., 10 cars, 25 cars)
Number of Employees: A company can have 50, 100, or
200 employees, but not 150.75 employees.
 TYPES OF
VARIABLES • Independent
ACCORDING TO Variables
• Dependent Variables
FUNCTIONAL • Mediating Variables
RELATIONSHIPS • Moderating Variables
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
• The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher
to observe its effect on another variable. It is the presumed
cause in a cause-and-effect relationship.
• Role: Predictor, manipulated variable
ex. In a study examining the effect of sleep on test
performance, the amount of sleep (e.g., 4hrs, 8hrs) is the
independent variable.
Explanation: Researchers adjust the amount of sleep to see how it
impacts test scores.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
• The variable that is measured or observed to see how it is
affected by the independent variable. It is the presumed effect
in a cause-and-effect relationship.
• Role: Outcome, measured variable.
ex. In the same study, test performance (e.g., test
scores) is the dependent variable.
Explanation: Test scores are measured to determine if they change
basdd on the different amounts of sleep.
 MEDIATING VARIABLE
• A variable that explains the relationship between the independent
and dependent variables. It acts as an intermediary, clarifying how
the independent variable influences the dependent variable.
• Role: Explains the mechanism or process.
ex. Suppose stress (independent variable) affects health
(dependent variable). A Mediating variable might be sleep quality.
Increased stress leads to poor sleep quality, which in turn negatively
affects health.
Explanation: Stress influences sleep quality, which then affects health,
thus sleep quality mediates the relationship between stress and health.
MODERATING VARIABLE
• A variable that influences the strength or direction of the relationship
between the independent and dependent variables. It specifies when
or for whom the relationship holds true.
• Role: Alters the relationship.
ex. Consider the relationship between exercise (independent
variable) and weight loss (dependent variable). A Moderating variable
could be age. Exercise may be more effective for weight loss in younger
adults than in older adults.
Explanation: Age changes the extent to which exercise affects weight
loss, thus age moderates the relationship between exercise and weight
loss.
 TYPES OF
VARIABLES
ACCORDING TO • Controlled
CONTROL • Uncontrolled
• Confounding
VARIABLES
CONTROLLED VARIABLE
• A variable that is kept constant during an experiment to prevent it from
influencing the relationship between the independent and dependent
variables.
• Role: Ensures that changes in the dependent variable are due to the
independent variable alone.
ex. In an experiment testing the effect of a new fertilizer on plant
growth, controlled variables might include the amount of water each plant
receives, the type of soil used, and the amount of sunlight each plant is
exposed to.
Explanation: By keeping these factors constant, the researchercan be more
confident that any differences in plant growth are due to the fertilizer and
not these other variables.
UNCONTROLLED VARIABLE
• a variable that is not kept constant during an experiment and is allowed
to vary freely.
• Role: Can introduce variability or noise into the data, making it harder to
detect the true effectof the independent variable on the dependent
variable.
ex. In the same plant growth experiment, an uncontrolled variable
might be slightly variations in temperature or humidity in the room where
the plants are grown.
Explanation: While the researcher may try to maintain a consistent
environment, minor fluctuations can occur and affect plant growth, adding
variability to the results.
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE
• a variable that is related to both the independent and dependent
variables, potentially causing a spurious association. It can distort the
true relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
• Roles: creates a misleading relationship.
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE
ex. Suppose a researcher is studying the effect of exercise on weight
loss. A confounding variable could be diet. People who exercise more might
also tend to have healthier diets. If the researcher doesn't account for diet.
If the researcher doesn't account for diet, they might mistakenly attribute
all the weight loss to exercise, when in fact, diet also plays a significant
role.
Explanation: Diet is related to both exercise (people who exercise more may
eat healthier) and weight loss (diet directly affects weight loss). Therefore, it
confounds the relationship between exercise and weight loss.