Statistics

Study of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
Types of DataCollecting DataDescribing Data: Charts and Summaries
Probability and RandomnessStatistical InferenceCorrelation and Causation
Sports and PerformanceHealth and MedicineBusiness and Marketing
Breaking Down ProblemsChecking Your Work
Types of DataCollecting DataDescribing Data: Cha...Probability and Rand...Statistical Inferenc...Correlation and Caus...Sports and Performan...Health and MedicineBusiness and Marketi...Breaking Down Proble...Checking Your Work
Basic Concepts

Types of Data

Understanding Data

Data is the foundation of statistics! It comes in many forms, and knowing the types helps us decide how to analyze and present it.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative

  • Qualitative data describes qualities or categories—like favorite colors or types of pets.
  • Quantitative data represents numbers or amounts—like how many apples you have or your height in centimeters.

Discrete and Continuous Data

  • Discrete data can be counted in whole numbers, such as the number of siblings you have.
  • Continuous data can take any value within a range, like temperature or the time it takes to run a race.

Why Data Types Matter

Knowing the type of data helps you choose the right charts, statistical tests, and summaries.

Real-World Uses

Scientists use quantitative data to measure temperatures, while marketers analyze qualitative data about customer preferences.

Examples

  • Survey results on students' favorite ice cream flavors are qualitative data.

  • The number of pages in a book is discrete quantitative data.

In a Nutshell

Data can be sorted into types like qualitative, quantitative, discrete, and continuous.

Key Terms

Qualitative Data
Data that describes qualities or categories, not numbers.
Quantitative Data
Data that can be measured or counted using numbers.
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Collecting Data
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