Types Of Variables

Question 1

Continuous variables:

Answer 1

• can take an infinite number of values within a range
  E.g.. rainfall can range in values from 0-1mm, to 0-0.01mm etcetc with many divisions

Question 2

What are the categories of variables?

Answer 2

Qualitative:
1. Nominal
- set of mutually exclusive categories that varies qualitatively but not quantitatively e.g. color
2. Ordinal
- categories are ordered in one dimension e.g. cancer stages, grade A,B,C

Quantitative
3. Interval
- differences between adjacent categories are equal
- no zero reference pt e.g. temp in celsius
4. Ratio
- there is a true zero point e.g. weight

Question 3

Nominal variables:

Answer 3

• categorical variables w no particular order or priority
• e.g. gender, names, countries
• e.g. how long have you been using our pdt?
  
  • less than 6 months
  • 6-12 months
  • more than 1 yr

Question 4

Ordinal variables:

Answer 4

• measurement variables that take values w an order or rank, may or may not be numerical
• measures qualitative traits
• median and mode values can be analysed
• e.g. how satisfied are you w the service?
  
  • very satisfied
  • satisfied
  • indifferent
  • dissatisfied
  • very dissatisfied

Question 5

Interval variables:

Answer 5

• measurement variable that is used to define values measured along a scale, with each pt placed at an equal distance from one another
• unlike ordinal variables that take values w no standardized scale, every point in the interval scale is equidistant
• continuous variable, but absolute zero is not used as a reference pt. => e.g. for IQ tests, ppl cannot have zero IQ, the level of an individual’s IQ will be determined depending on the interval that their IQ score falls in
• e.g. temperature measured in celsius, generation age range
• arithmetic: only addition & subtraction can be carried out on the values

Question 6

Ratio variable:

Answer 6

• similar to the interval variable, but with absolute zero as a useable reference pt value
• arithmetic such as addition subtraction, multiplication & division can be carried out on the values, due to the 0-pt characteristic
• thus, can say that an object is twice as big or as long as another

E.g. temperature measured in kelvin

Question 7

Parametric variables

Answer 7

• one of two or more equations expressing the location of a point on a curve or surface by determining each coordinate separately
• parametric tests assume a bell shaped curve (normal distribution of values)