Types of Data

PROPRIETARY
 Data Types Objective

• The type of data

determines which tests
should be used in the
analysis
• Some types of data lead
to much more powerful
tests than others

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 Categorical Data

• Places things in distinct

categories Pass
Pass -- Fail
Fail
• No implied order
Red
Red –– Blue
Blue ––
• Also called nominal data
Green
Green
Ford
Ford –– Nissan
Nissan ––
Toyota
Toyota –– Volvo
Volvo

Big
Big -- Small
Small

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 Variable Data

• Represented on a
number line Gas
Gas Weight
Weight
• Can take numerous
values Seatbelt
Seatbelt Tensile
Tensile
• Can be mathematically Strength
Strength
manipulated Airbag
Airbag Inflation
Inflation
• Also called interval/ratio Pressure
data Pressure
Component
Component
Diameter
Diameter

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 Variable Data

Variable Data can be

sub-grouped in two Variable Data
ways: Interval Ratio

Continuous Discrete
• Interval vs. Ratio
• Discrete vs. Continuous

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 Interval Vs. Ratio

Interval Data Ratio Data

• Can be added and • Can be meaningfully
subtracted, but not added, subtracted,
meaningfully multiplied multiplied, and divided
and divided • The zero point is not
• The zero point is arbitrary
arbitrary • The zero point really
means “nothing is there”

-5 0 5

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 Interval Vs. Ratio Examples

Interval Data Ratio Data

• Temperature in degrees • The amount of money in
Celsius or Fahrenheit a bank account
• Zero does not mean there is • Temperature in degrees
no temperature
Kelvin
• The year, a.d • The weight of a sample
• Time did not begin in the
year zero a.d. of material
• Measuring a length with • Measuring a length with
respect to a known respect to zero
datum

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 Discrete Vs. Continuous

Continuous Data Discrete Data

• Can take on any value • Is limited to being
measure in certain
values or steps
Examples
• The length of a part Examples
• The temperature in the • Any amount of money
room • Increments of 1 cent
• The pressure output of • Positions on self-locating
an airbag dial
• A count of parts

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 The Power of Variable Data

• Categorical data have no mathematical relationship

with each other
• How close is a good part from being bad and visa versa
• There are many more tools and models that can be
used with variable data than with categorical
• To get the same information from categorical data as
variable data, the sample sizes become enormous

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 Exercise #1

Determine if the following are categorical or

variable data and which type of variable:
• Number of scratches on a computer monitor screen
• This car is gray and that car is red
• Scratched vs. non-scratched monitor screens
• Length of a pencil
• Price of a newspaper
• Air pressure in a tire
• The reading on a digital air pressure gauge
• Samples that can be sorted into square, round, and
triangular

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 Exercise #2

In your groups:
• Review the some of the metrics in your
processes
• Identify what types of data they are
• Determine if any categorical metrics can be
measured differently to make them variable
data

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 Exercise Answers

• Number of scratches on a computer monitor screen

• Variable: Ratio and Discrete
• This car is gray and that car is red
• Categorical
• Scratched vs. non-scratched monitor screens
• Categorical
• Length of a pencil
• Variable: Ratio and Continuous
• Price of a newspaper
• Variable: Ratio and Discrete
• Air pressure in a tire
• Variable: Ratio and Continuous
• The reading on a digital air pressure gauge
• Variable: Ratio and Discrete
• Samples that can be sorted into square, round, and triangular
• Categorical

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 References

“Data Types” -Promontory Management

Group
• (c) 2001 Promontory Management Group, Inc.

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