Data Classification 1.2 SECTION 1.2 Data Classification 9 Types of Data Levels of Measurement What You Should Learn How to distinguish between qualitative data and quantitative data How to classify data with respect to the four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio Types of Data When conducting a study, it is important to know the kind of data involved. The type of data you are working with will determine which statistical procedures can be used. In this section, you will learn how to classify data by type and by level of measurement. Data sets can consist of two types of data: qualitative data and quantitative data. Qualitative data consist of attributes, labels, or nonnumerical entries. Quantitative data consist of numbers that are measurements or counts. DEFINITION Classifying Data by Type The table shows a partial list of vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species and the approximate numbers of each species remaining. Which data are qualitative data and which are quantitative data? Explain your reasoning. (Source: World Wildlife Fund) Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered Species Common species name Number remaining African elephant 415,000 Black-footed ferret 370 Giant panda 1864 Indus river dolphin 1816 Javan rhinoceros 60 North Atlantic right whale 400 Sunda tiger 400 Tapanuli orangutan 800 Vaquita 10 SOLUTION The information shown in the table can be separated into two data sets. One data set contains the common species names and the other contains the numbers remaining. The names are nonnumerical entries, so these are qualitative data. The numbers remaining are numerical entries, so these are quantitative data. TRY IT YOURSELF 1 The populations of several U.S. cities are shown in the table. Which data are qualitative data and which are quantitative data? Explain your reasoning. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau) Answer: Page A35 EXAMPLE 1 City Population Baltimore, MD 593,490 Chicago, IL 2,693,976 Glendale, AZ 252,381 Denver, CO 727,211 Portland, OR 654,741 San Francisco, CA 881,549
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