Types Of Data

Types Of Data

Dr. Ahmed Hussein

Department of Basic Science

BIOS 101
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 Objectives

• Identify the concept of biostatistics.

• Identify types of Statistical Data.
• Identify discrete Data.
• Identify continuous Data.

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 ?What is Biostatistics

Biostatistics is the branch of statistics responsible for the

proper interpretation of scientific data generated in the
biology , public health and other health sciences.

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:Types of Statistical Data

There are four measurement scales ( or types of data ): nominal,

ordinal, inter- val and ratio. These are simply ways to categorize
different types of variables. This topic is usually discussed in the
context of academic teaching and less often in the “real world.” If
you are brushing up on this concept for a statistics test, thank a
psychologist researcher named Stanley Stevens for coming up
with these terms. These four measurement scales ( nominal,
ordinal, interval, and ratio ) are best understood with example, as
you’ll see below.

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Nominal.1

Let’s start with the easiest one to understand. Nominal scales are used for
labe- ling variables, without any quantitative value. ”Nominal” scales could
simply be called “labels.” Here are some examples, below. Notice that all of
these scales are mutually exclusive ( no overlap ) and none of them have any
numerical sig- nificance. A good way to remember all of this is that “nominal”
sounds a lot like “name” and nominal scales are kind of like “names” or
.labels

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2- Ordinal

With ordinal scales, it is the order of the values is what’s important and
sig- nificant, but the differences between each one is not really known.
Take a look at the example below. In each case, we know that a # 4 is
better than a # 3 or # 2, but we don’t know–and cannot quantify–how
much better it is. For example, is the difference between “OK” and
“Unhappy” the same as the difference between “Very Happy” and
“Happy?” We can’t say.

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3- Interval:

Interval scales are numeric scales in which we know not only

the order, but also the exact differences between the values.
The classic example of an interval scale is Celsius temperature
because the difference between each value is the same. For
example, the difference between 60 and 50 degrees is a
measurable 10 degrees, as is the difference between 80 and
70 degrees.

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 Here’s the problem with interval scales:

they don’t have a “true zero.” For example, there is no

such thing as “no temperature.” Without a true zero, it
is impossible to compute ratios. With interval data, we
can add and subtract, but cannot multiply or divide.

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4- Ratio:

Ratio scales are the ultimate nirvana when it comes to

measurement scales because they tell us about the order, they
tell us the exact value between units, AND they also have an
absolute zero–which allows for a wide range of both
descriptive and inferential statistics to be applied. At the risk of
re- peating myself, everything above about interval data
applies to ratio scales

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In summary, nominal variables are
used to “name,” or label a series of
values. Ordinal scales provide good
information about the order of
choic- es, such as in a customer
satisfaction survey. Interval scales This Device Provides Two Examples of
Ratio Scales (height and weight)
give us the or- der of values + the
ability to quan- tify the difference
between each one. Finally, Ratio
scales give us the ulti- mate–order,
interval values, plus the ability to
calculate ratios since a “true zero”
can be defined.

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Data

• Data is defined as facts or statistics brought together for

reference or analysis. You may collect your own data, for
example, by measuring variables in an experiment, or by
recording characteristics of a set of objects or people. A data
set is the list of measurements, or collection of recordings,
you made. The number of measurements you make is
known as the sample size of the data set.

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Discrete Data
Discrete Data can only take certain values.

Example:

the number of students in a class (you can’t

have half a student).

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• There are two main types of data:

discrete and continuous. The word “discrete” means separate and

distinct. Discrete data has a finite num- ber of natural categories,
whereas continuous data can take an infinite number of values, and
has no natural categories. The categories of dis- crete data do not
overlap. Mathematically, the values of discrete data can take on
separate, isolated points on the number line.

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Examples of Discrete Data

• An example of discrete data is hair or eye color. In eye color, the

cat- egories may be blue, brown, green and hazel. An example of
continu- ous data is height or weight, where no such categories
exist. You can impose your own categories onto weight by putting
each measurement into a range of weights. For example, these
ranges may include 100 to 109 pounds and 110 to 119 pounds,
turning it into a discrete data set. However, the natural way to
express weight measurements is as a con- tinuous data set.

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A simple analysis
You can perform is to calculate the percentage of the total frequency
that each category makes up. Do this by adding up each frequency to
find the total, and dividing the frequen- cy for each category by the
total frequency. Multiply the result by 100 to find the percentage.

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Continuous Data
Continuous Data can take any value ( within a range )
Examples:

• A person’s height: could be any value ( within the range of human

heights ), not just certain fixed heights,

• Time in a race: you could even measure it to fractions of a second,

• A dog’s weight,
• The length of a leaf,
• Lots more!

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Examples of Continuous Data

• The height of a boy over time is an example of continuous

data.

• Varying temperature from maximum to minimum point on a

particu- lar day is a continuous data.

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 Summary

• The concept of biostatistics.

• Types of Statistical Data.
• Discrete Data.
• Continuous Data.

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 Quizzes
?Which of these graphs displays continuous data .1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graph

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2. Mention Type of Statistical Data.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a. Color
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b. Time
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c. Country
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “ d. Very Happy” and “Happy
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e. Weight and Blood pressure

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3. The numbers 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............

Discrete Data or Continuous Data.

4. The Interval 5 - 9 is …………………..

Discrete Data or Continuous Data.

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 Reference
Pagno, Gauvreau. Principles of Biostatistics. 2nd edition,2001, .1
.books.google.com
,Bernard Rosner. Fundamentals of Biostatistics, 2010 .2
.books. google.com
Wayne Deniel. Biostatistics: A Foundation for Analysis in the .3
Health sciences,2012
.books. google.com
.Ahmed Hussein. Biostatistics 101BIOS ,2014 -4
.Al Farabi College Library

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Thank You

www.vision.edu.sa