Categorical and numerical data
Categorical and numerical data.
- Categorical data describe groups or labels; numerical data count or measure quantities.
- Ask what the value means. A shirt number is a label, even though it uses digits.
Example 1
A survey records each student’s favourite subject. Is this categorical or numerical data?
The responses are subject names, so they describe categories.
Example 2
A survey records how many books each student read last month. Classify the data.
The values are counts. Adding or averaging the numbers has a meaningful interpretation.
Your turn
A football team records shirt numbers such as 7, 10 and 24. Are these categorical or numerical data?
Check answer
The numbers identify players; they are labels, not measurements or counts.
A nurse records patients’ heights in centimetres. Classify the data.
Check answer
Height is a measurement. Differences and averages have meaning.
A shop records payment method: cash, card or voucher. Classify the data.
Check answer
Each response places a purchase in a named category.
A school records each student’s travel time in minutes. Classify the data.
Check answer
Time is a measured quantity, even when it is rounded to whole minutes.
A form records satisfaction as poor, fair, good or excellent. Classify the data.
Check answer
These are ordered categories. Their order does not turn the words into measured numerical values.
A football team records shirt numbers such as 7, 10 and 24. Are these categorical or numerical data?
AnswerThe numbers identify players; they are labels, not measurements or counts.
A nurse records patients’ heights in centimetres. Classify the data.
AnswerHeight is a measurement. Differences and averages have meaning.
A shop records payment method: cash, card or voucher. Classify the data.
AnswerEach response places a purchase in a named category.
A school records each student’s travel time in minutes. Classify the data.
AnswerTime is a measured quantity, even when it is rounded to whole minutes.
A form records satisfaction as poor, fair, good or excellent. Classify the data.
AnswerThese are ordered categories. Their order does not turn the words into measured numerical values.