1-2 Variables and Types of Data

1-2 Variables and Types of Data

You will be able to:

*identify types of data

Variables can be classified as qualitative or quantitative

• Qualitative variables are variables that can be placed into distinct categories, according to some characteristic or attribute.

• Quantitative variables are numerical and can be ordered or ranked. For example, the variable age is numerical, and people can be ranked in order according to the value of their ages. 

Multiple Choice

Your teacher has asked you to explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations. Which statement is correct?

• Quantitative observations use numbers, qualitative uses the senses.

• Quantitative observations use the senses, qualitative uses numbers.

• Quantitative observations use measurement, qualitative uses numbers.

• Quantitative observations use colors, qualitative uses the senses.

Multiple Choice

The gummy worm increased by 2 inches.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The dogs were small.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The leaves on the plant are turning brown.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Both

• Neither

Multiple Choice

The plant has grown 4 cm since yesterday.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Both

• Neither

Types of Quantitative Variables

• Discrete variables assume values that can be counted.

• Continuous variables can assume an infinite number of values between any two specific values. They are obtained by measuring. They often include fractions and decimals.

Multiple Choice

The cost of your lunch at Burger King.

• Continuous

• Discrete

Multiple Choice

The time it takes for a light bulb to burn out.

• Continuous

• Discrete

Multiple Choice

The number of school lunches sold during the month.

• Discrete

• Continuous

Multiple Choice

The time it takes you to drive to school.

• Continuous

• Discrete

Measurement Scales

• Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value. “Nominal” scales could simply be called “labels.”

• With ordinal scales, the order of the values is what’s important and significant, but the differences between each one is not really known. 

• Interval scales are numeric scales in which we know both the order and the exact differences between the values.

• Ratio scales tell us about the order, they tell us the exact value between units, AND they also have an absolute zero–which allows for a wide range of both descriptive and inferential statistics to be applied. 

Multiple Choice

Virginia's listing as the number one men's NCAA basketball team in a poll of sportswriters, with Michigan State listed number two.

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The birth weights of babies who were born at Wilshire General Hospital last week.

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The cell phone listed as third best on an online electronics review website.

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The number of votes received by the Republican and Democratic candidates for congress in your district in the last election

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The temperatures in cities throughout the country that are listed in most newspapers.

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

Your friend's score on an intelligence test

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

Ethnic group categories of people in a neighborhood.

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The type of programming on each radio station in your city (e.g., 93.7 KSKS play Country, Y101.1 plays Pop)

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

Multiple Choice

The type of programming on each radio station in your city (e.g., 93.7 KSKS play Country, Y101.1 plays Pop)

• Nominal

• Ordinal

• Interval

• Ratio

1-2 Applying the Concepts

Complete the Google Form in your Google Classroom