DATA

Types of Data

I. Quantitative Data: represented by a number and a unit of

measurement based on a standard scale with equal intervals.
Examples of standard scales: metric system or Arabic system
of numbers. It could also be a number count, like how many
freckles a person has. Examples of quantitative variables:
height of a person in meters, mass of rabbits in kilograms,
number of seeds germinated.

1. continuous quantitative data: collected using standard

measurement scales divisible into partial (meaning you
could have less than, or part of one) units. Examples:
distance in kilometers (1.2 km) and volume in liters (1.5 L)

2. discrete quantitative data: collected using standard scales in

which only whole integers are used. Examples: number of
wolves born in a year, the number of people who can touch
their toes

3. ratio data: when data is collected using a standard scale

with equal divisible intervals and an absolute zero.
Examples: temperature of a gas on the Kelvin scale, the
velocity of an object in m/sec, and the distance from a point
in meters. This data can be used in a ratio and proportion.

4. interval data: data that does not have an absolute zero.

Example: temperature of a substance on the Celsius scale
(water molecules are still moving at 0 degrees Celsius. This
data CANNOT be used in a ratio and proportion.
II. Qualitative Data: classified into categories. The categories
may be discrete categories represented by a word or “number”
label or measurements made with a nonstandard scale with
unequal intervals. The categories are created by the
experimenter. Examples include: gender of an organism and
color

1. nominal data: when objects have been named or placed into

discrete categories that cannot be rank ordered Examples:
hair color (red, brown, black) or gender (male/female)

2. ordinal data: when objects have been placed into categories

that CAN be rank ordered (best or worst). Examples:
animal activity can be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5
being the most active also Moh’s Hardness Scale for
Minerals (diamonds are the strongest)